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Greenleaf,  Mary  Coombs,  i8o| 


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LIFE  AND  LETTERS 
MISS  MARY  C.  GREENLEAF, 


JHiMiQnnrif  ta  \\i  Qi\i\nm.  SnMana. 


Ifthin.e  eye  be  single,  thj' whole  body  Bhali  be  fiili  of  ligiit" 
Matt.  G:  22. 


WSITTES     FOR    THE    MASSACHtlSElTS    SABBATH     BCHOOI,    SOCIETT,     AND 
APPEOVED    BY    THE    COMMITTEE     OP    PUBLICATION. 


BOSTON: 
MASSACHUSETTS    SABBATH  SCHOOL  SOCIETY, 

Depository,  No.  13  Cornhill. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1858, 

Bg  tfjc  IHassadjusetts  Safabatfj  Scfjool  Soctctg, 
in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  Massachusetts. 

Well-Spsing  Pkess— No.  4  Spring  Lane. 


Cff  nttnts. 


CHAPTER     I. 

Childhood. — Early  Life. — Conversion. — Extracts 
from  her  Diary.  .....  7 

CHAPTER     II. 

Religious  Meetings,  and  Societies. — Miss  Green- 
leaf  as  a  Bible  Class  Pupil. — As  a  Sabbath 
school  Teacher. — Interest  in  her  Pupils. — 
Notes  Addressed  to  them. — Home  Life. — 
Extracts  from  Letters. — Secret  of  her  Activ- 
ity'.— Apt  Reply  to  a  Desponding  Christ- 
ian.     ........         37 

CHAPTER     III. 

Death  of  her  Father. — Deep  Grief. — Re- 
moval.— Walks  and  Efforts  of  Usefiilness. — 
Care  of  Invalid  Cousin. — Letter. — Exer- 
tions  to  Promote  a    Revival  of  Religion.     .  100 


CONTENTS, 


CHAPTER     IV. 

Death  of  her  Mother. — Reflections. — Extract 
from  her  Journal,  and  Letters. — Death  of  her 
Brother. — Letter  to  his  Widow. — Writes  a 
Memoir  of  her  Mother. — Removal. — Daily 
Life. — Letter 145 

CHAPTER     V. 

Visits  out  of  Town. — Letters. — Injury  to  her 
Wrist. — Temporary  Residence  in  Boston. — 
Letters. — Returns  Home. — Thinks  of  Becom- 
ing a  Missionary.  —  Letters.  —  Decision. — 
Farewell  Visits  in  Newbury  port  and  Boston. 
— Letters  from  Points  in  her  Route,  and 
from    Wapanucka. — Death.         .         .         .       179 

CHAPTER     VI. 

Extracts  from  Letters  of  her  Fellow  Teachers. 
— Conclusion 411 


Sfe  ®m^  E^HUeir^ 


MISS   MARY    C.    GREENLEAF 


CHAPTER    I. 


'  Her  lot  is  on  thee— to  be  found  untired, 

Watching  the  stars  out  by  the  bed  of  pain, 
With  a  pale  cheek,  and  yet  a  brow  inspired, 

And  a  true  heart  of  hope,  though  hope  be  vain. 
Meekly  to  bear  with  wrong,  to  cheer  decay, 
And  oh !  to  love  through  all  things— therefore  pray." 

Mks.  Hemans. 


Those  who  have  read  the  Memoir  of  Mrs. 
Jane  Greenleaf,  compiled  by  her  daughter, 
may  be  interested  to  learn  some  further 
particulars  in  the  life  and  character  of  the 
latter.  An  earnest  wish  has  been  ex- 
pressed by  some  of  those  who  knew  them 
long  and  well,  that  a  few  of  the  leading 


LIFE     AND     LETTERS 


events  in  her  history,  of  the  prominent 
traits  in  her  character,  may  be  gathered, 
and,  through  the  press,  made  accessible  to 
themselves  and  others.  It  is  hoped  also, 
that  a  glance  at  her  life  may  not  prove 
uninstructive  to  those  to  whom  she  was 
not  personally  known.  The  smallest 
stream  which  wanders  down  the  hill-side, 
to  be  welcomed  finally  into  the  bosom  of 
rejoicing  ocean,  adds  beauty  to  the  land- 
scape, as  well  as  verdure  to  its  own  fields 
and  meadows.  Should  any  little  rill  or 
stream  flowing  down  from  the  Spring  of 
living  waters  do  less  than  this  ?  Yet  some 
creep  along  so  lazily,  and  hide  among  the 
grass  and  rushes  so  daintily,  that  one 
would  think  the  object  were  to  do  as  little 
good  as  possible,  rather  than  as  much. 
There  are  others,  however,  that  sweep  joy- 
ously along,  sparkling  in  the  sunbeams, 
refreshing  vegetation  and  verdure,  reflect- 


.MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  9 

ing  the  sweet  flowers  they  nourish,  yet 
never  resting  while  other  fields  are  to  be 
watered,  other  fruits  and  flowers  to  be 
quickened  into  life  and  nurtured  into 
beauty.  Let  us  for  a  while  follow  the 
course  of  such  a  fertilizing  moral  stream. 

In  one  of  the  pleasant  houses  upon  the 
ridge  of  high  land  which  forms  a  part  of 
High  street,  Newbury  port,  Mass.,  was  born, 
Jan.  31st,  1800.,  Mary  Coombs  Greenleaf. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Ebenezer  and 
Mrs.  Jane  Greenleaf.  Her  mother,  tliough 
she  had  great  faith,  had  not,  it  seems,  the 
gift  of  prescience.  At  the  birth  of  her  sou 
William,  her  heart  overflowed  with  deep, 
indelible  emotions  of  gratitude  and  happi- 
iiess — but  when  another  life  was  intrusted 
to  her  keeping,  she  was,  for  a  time,  in 
heaviness  of  soul. 

Under  the  tuition  of  this  dear  Christian 
mother,  with  a  loved  and  loving  brother, 


10  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

her  senior  by  two  years,  passed  her  early 
days.  With  him,  on  Sabbath  evenings, 
she  used  to  watch  the  sun  descending 
below  the  hill.  When  he  was  quite  gone, 
they  were  permitted  a  walk  in  the  garden. 
Probably  she  could  not  then  adopt  the 
language  of  her  grandfather,  Captain 
Coombs  : 

"  Oh,  Jenny !  the  Sabbath  is  so  short.  I 
just  begin  to  enjoy  it  and  it  is  gone." 

Yet  God,  who  enabled  the  motlier  to 
obey  literally  his  command  to  his  early 
covenant  people  as  to  the  training  of  their 
children,*  bestowed  upon  the  daughter 
that  restraining  grace  which  the  old 
divines  regarded  as  the  next  blessing  to 
converting  grace.  At  school  she  was  a 
model  of  diligence,  cheerfulness  and  good 
behavior.  "  She  was  never  punished  but 
once,"  so  said  an  early  schoolmate,  "  and 

*Deut.  6:  6,  7. 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  11 

then  I  was  tlie  cause  of  it.  She  whispered, 
and  tired  of  seeing  her  always  so  perfect,  I 
told  of  her.  She  was  bid  to  stand  upon 
the  seat.  She  obeyed,  but  wept  bitterly. 
I  too  wept.  I  felt  very  unhappy.  As  soon 
as  school  was  out,  I  hastened  to  her,  and 
begged  her  forgiveness.  '  Why,'  she  said, 
'  you  were  not  to  blame.  I  deserved  to  be 
punished ;  but  it  was  the  first  time,  and 
somehow  I  could  not  help  crying.'  '  Well, 
Mary,'  I  replied,  '  this  is  the  last  time  that 
I  will  ever  get  a  good  girl  punished.'  " 

Another  schoolmate,  in  accounting  for 
the  fact  of  her  being  a  rapid  knitter,  said  it 
was  due  to  her  making  great  exertions  at 
school,  for  the  pleasure  of  seeing  Mary's 
applauding  look  when  she,  each  morning, 
designated  with  her  finger  the  progress 
made.  Those  who  can  recall  her  quick- 
beaming  eye,  her  electric  glance  of  pleased 
surprise,  will  understand  this. 


12  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

The   providential   discipline   of  lier  life 
began  early.     Her  father  was  addicted  to 
evil    habits,    which,    notwithstanding    the 
constant  assistance  of  near  relatives,  and 
the  occasional  aid  of  friends,  entailed  upon 
her    a    life    of    exertion    and    self-denial. 
That  she  could  not  dress  as  well  as  her 
young  companions  was  a  sore  mortification. 
Those  who  know  the  heart  of  a  young  girl 
can  realize  that  any  thing  which  puts   a 
distinction   between   her  and   her    school- 
mates, is  hard  to  be  borne.     It  is  one  of 
the   little    griefs   which   weigh    down    the 
hearts   of  little   people.      Besides,  though 
she   was   everywhere   regarded   as   an  ex- 
ample of  humility,  yet  she  always  insisted 
thai   she    was    naturally  very   proud.     To 
her  father,  she  was  ever  dutiful,  affection- 
ate,   devoted.      The   household   grief  was 
borne  and  buried  in   entire  silence.     What 
unspeakable  sorrow  and  sadness  it  caused, 


MARY     C.      GREENLEAF.  13 

we  can  never  know.  Only  glimpses  of  it 
were  revealed  to  near  friends  in  the  quiet 
subdued  air  which  sometimes  told  of 
recent  trial.  Usually  she  was  cheerful, 
active,  versatile.  Hhe  had  a  great  fund  of 
innocent  mirth.  Her  laughter  gushed  out 
so  freely,  so  appealingly,  that  there  was  no 
resisting  it.  It  was  refreshing  to  hear 
her. 

At  the  age  of  thirteen  her  school-life 
closed,  and  she  commenced  that  routine  of 
home  duties  and  labors  which  was  never 
intermitted  till  the  close  of  her  mother's 
life  in  1851. 

Early  in  the  summer  of  1819  her  mind 
became  more  tlian  usually  impressed  with 
the  subject  of  religion.  Her  convictions 
were  deep,  but  as  she  says,  "  awfully 
resisted."  She  adds  in  her  "  Relation," 
which,  according  to  the  custom  of  that 
time,   was   given   in   and    read   from    the 


14  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

pulpit  when  she  was  admitted  to  the 
church  : — "  Though  I  was  convinced  of 
the  guilt  of  such  conduct,  I  was  unwilling 
to  accept  of  him  (Christ,)  on  the  terms  of 
the  gospel,  and  my  heart  seemed  to  grow 
more  hard  and  stubborn.  But  after  re- 
maining in  this  state  of  distress  for  several 
days,  I  humbly  hope  God  in  sovereign 
mercy  was  pleased  to  overcome  the  opposi- 
tion of  my  heart,  and  made  me  willing  to 
come  as  a  beggar  for  mercy,  realizing  that 
I  deserved  none  at  his  hand,  and  that 
should  I  be  cast  off  forever,  he  would  do 
me  no  wrong.  Then,  a  sweet  peace  grad- 
ually ensued — such  a  peace  as,  I  trust,  the 
world  can  neither  give  nor  take  away. 
The  character  of  God  appears  excellent 
and  glorious,  and  I  think,  if  I  am  not 
deceived,  the  Saviour  has  appeared  pre- 
cious to  me  as  the  chief  among  ten  thou- 
sand, and  altogether  lovely  !     His   cause, 


MAEY     C.     GREENLEAF.  15 

his  people,  I  hope  I  love.  The  public  and 
private  duties  of  religion,  once  burden- 
some, are  now  pleasant.  Sin  appears 
odious  in  itself,  and  as  committed  against 
a  God  of  spotless  purity.  Though  I  am 
defiled  in  every  part  with  it,  yet  it  is  my 
greatest  burden,  and  if  not  deceived,  I 
ardently  desire  perfect  conformity  to  the 
temper  and  image  of  Christ.  I  also  think 
I  feel  a  love  for  the  souls  of  others,  and 
wish  that  all  may  come  and  find  solid 
happiness  in  religion." 

In  that  period  of  distress  and  mental 
agitation  which  preceded  her  conversion,  a 
word  from  her  pastor,  implying  that  gloom 
and  despondency  were  no  part  of  religion, 
seemed  immediately  to  aid  her  entrance 
into  the  light  and  joy  which  the  Christian 
alone  inherits.  She  experienced  the  first 
conscious  actings  of  her  new  life,  one 
evening   at   the   Chapel,  while   the   pastor 


16  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

was  reading  the  hymn  of  Cowper,  com- 
mencing, 

"  There   is   a  fountain   filled   with  blood." 
When  he  came  to  the  stanza, 

"  E'er   since,   by   faith,   I   saw   the   stream, 
Thy   flowing   wounds   supply, 
Redeeming  love   has  been   my  theme, 
And  shall  be— till  I  die," 

her  heart  overflowed.  She  with  her  whole 
soul  adopted  the  utterance  of  the  last  line. 

Her  journal  during  this  time  of  spiritual 
conflict,  denotes  entire  self-condemnation, 
and  astonishment  at  the  Divine  forbear- 
ance and  mercy.  Through  the  whole,  she 
takes  the  side  of  God  against  herself.  She 
says,  under  date  of  September,  1819  : 

"  Have  attended  the  meeting  at  the 
vestry    of    the    North    church.       One    of 


MARY     C.     GREBNLEAF.  17 

President  Davies'  sermons  on  the  nature 
and  danger  of  making  light  of  Christ  was 
read.  My  own  character  was  clearly 
pointed  out,  yet  sensible  as  I  am  of  the 
folly  and  danger  of  my  course  of  life,  I 
have  not  yet  come  to  a  resolution  to  alter 
it.  What  strange  infatuation  possesses 
me !  Warned  as  I  frequently  am  of  the 
uncertainty  of  life,  yet  I  vainly  presume  on 
sufficient  time  to  make  my  peace  with 
God.  0,  the  astonishing  compassion  and 
patience  of  Jesus,  who  has  come  seeking 
fruit  of  me  for  so  long  a  time,  and  yet  has 
not  cut  me  down  as  a  '  cumberer  of  the 
ground !  '  For  more  than  nineteen  years 
have  I  slighted  the  offers  of  a  Saviour,  the 
calls,  the  warnings  of  God's  Word,  Gospel, 
providence,  the  strivings  of  his  Spirit,  and 
the  voice  of  conscience,  and  have  so  hard- 
ened my  heart  that  now  I  seem  almost 
past    feeling.       How    I    grieve    my    dear 


18  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

mother,  who  longs  so  for  my  salvation, 
and  who  watches  every  favorable  symptom. 
Oh,  shall  I  disappoint  her  fond  hopes  ? 
Lord,  forbid  it.  Left  to  myself  I  certainly 
shall." 

From  that  time  onward,  her  soul  ex- 
panded to  catch  the  quickening,  purifying 
influences  of  Divine  truth.  The  founda- 
tion of  her  religious  character  was  laid  in  a 
deep  sense  of  the  holiness  of  God's  law, 
and  of  the  infinite  love  of  her  Redeemer, 
and  in  an  absorbing  desire  to  be  and  do  all 
that  he  would  have  her.  Grief,  at  the 
immeasurable  distance  between  her  life 
and  her  standard,  is  the  key-note  of  her 
early  secret  records.  But  as  she  advances, 
the  strain  changes  to  that  of  jubilant 
thanksgiving.  Looking  unto  him  who  had 
loved  her,  and  bought  her  with  his 
precious  blood,  she  came  more  fully  into 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  19 

"  the    liberty    wherewith    he    makes    his 
people   free." 

Sonie  hesitation  has  been  felt  at  giving 
to  general  view,  the  secret  emotions  of  the 
heart  of  a  modest,  retiring  Christian  ;  but 
her  own  example  in  writing  the  Memoir  of 
her  mother  shows  that  she  approved  this 
course ;  and  referring  to  the  unerring 
standard  of  Scripture,  it  is  deemed  there 
is  ample  authority  for  so  doing.  There, 
the  inmost  thoughts  of  Hannah,  and  Mary 
the  mother  of  our  Lord,  are  presented  to 
us ;  we  behold  Moses  when  he  talks  with 
God  face  to  face  ;  we  look  upon  the  scene 
of  our  Saviour's  temptation  in  the  wilder- 
ness ;  and,  most  wonderful  of  all,  the  vail 
is  lifted,  and  we  sinners  are  given  to  see 
our  Redeemer  in  that  dreadful  hour  of 
agony  in  the  Garden,  when  over  his  soul 
there  came  such  exceeding  sorrow  ;  when, 
in  anticipation,  "  he  was  wounded  for  our 


20  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

transgressions,  and  bruised  for  our  in- 
iquities." 

Let  the  church,  then,  with  due  caution 
and  reserve,  continue  to  use  the  experi- 
ence of  its  members  for  its  own  edification. 

We  give  the  opening  page,  and  a  few 
subsequent  passages   of  her  journal. 

"  Friday  evening,  July  2M,  1819. — I 
have  this  evening  resolved  to  commence  a 
diary  of  the  exercises  of  my  mind.  It  is 
what  my  dear  mother  has  long  wished,  and 
frequently  requested,  but  I  have  always 
obstinately  refused  to  gratify  her  desires 
till  yesterday ;  when  she  again  urged  it 
upon  me,  and  though  I  made  her  no 
reply,  I  resolved  no  longer  to  delay  it.  Oh, 
that  it  might  be  made  the  means  of  arous- 
ing me  from  this  dangerous  slumber  which 
has  so  long  rested  upon  me,  and  leading 
me  to  view  my  own  heart  impartially,  and 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  21 

finding  its  awful  guilt  and  depravity,  may 
I  never  rest  till  I  know  it  has  been 
changed   by   Almighty   grace ! 

"  For  the  last  six  weeks,  I  think  I  have 
felt  more  sensibly  than  ever,  the  import- 
ance of  an  interest  in  the  Saviour  of 
sinners,  and  have  also  realized  in  some 
degree,  the  vanity  of  every  earthly  bbject, 
and  its  utter  insufficiency  to  afford  me 
any  real  happiness.  Some  impression  was 
made  on  my  mind,  by  a  few  words  which 
Mr.  Byington  dropped  on  the  folly  and 
sin  of  ruining  my  own  soul,  and  the  neces- 
sity of  immediate  repentance.  Though  I 
have  no  reason  to  think  that  any  deep 
and  lasting  impression  was  then  made, 
yet  I  hope  I  shall  ever  remember  with 
gratitude  his  exertions  to  awaken  me 
from  my  deplorable  stupidity.  I  have, 
from  the  above  mentioned  time  generally 
felt  so  depressed  in  spirit,  that  my  wonted' 


22  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

cheerfulness  I  find  difficult  to  regain. 
Visiting  is  so  irksome  to  me,  that  I  wish 
for  any  excuse  to  decline  an  invitation, 
and  when  I  can  find  none,  return  com- 
pletely wretched.  Thus  I  derive  but  little 
happiness  from  the  world,  and  yet  cling 
fast  to  it.  Strange  inconsistency !  O 
that  I  might  not  remain  any  longer  halting 
between  two  opinions  ;  but  give  up  every 
idol,  and  devote  myself  to  the  service  of 
my  Creator,  who  is  daily  loading  me  with 
innumerable  mercies  ! 

" '  Dear  Saviour,  steep  this  rock  of  mine, 
In  thine   own   crimson  sea; 
None  but   a  bath  of  blood  divine, 
Can  melt  the  flint  away.'" 

"  Saturday,  July  24:th. — Have  been  this 
day  more  stupid  and  unaffected  than  for 

some    time.      Ma'    is     gone    to    B d, 

and  though  I  have  been  alone  this  after- 


MAEY     C.     GREENLEAP.  23 

noon,  have  had  little  relish  for  serious 
meditation.  0  how  I  waste  my  precious 
time,  on  the  improvement  of  which  hang 
'  endless  joys  or  endless  woes ! '  The 
Sabbath  is  now  approaching,  but  how 
little  desire  have  I  to  spend  it  aright ! 
Perhaps  I  may  not  live  to  see  it,  and  oh ! 
if  called  this  night  to  give  up  my  account, 
nothing  but  horror  and  despair  await  me ; 
yet  (0 !  astonishing  stupidity,)  I  am 
unalarmed  and  unconcerned.  When  shall 
I  anxiously  inquire,  '  What  shall  I  do  to 
be  saved  ? ' 

" '  O,  shall  I  never  feel 

The  meltings   of  thy   love  ? 
Am  I  of  such  thrice-hardened   steel, 
That  mercy  cannot  move  ? 

Now  for  one   powertul  glance, 
Dear    Saviour,  from   thy  face.* 


24  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

0,  that  I  could  add, 

" '  This   rebel  heart  no  more  withstands, 
But  sinks  beneath  thy  grace.' " 

''July,  21th.—  *  *  *  *  Have  been 
recently  re-perusing  the  memoir  of  Henry 
Obookiah,  which  has  appeared  very  strik- 
ing to  me.  While  reading  it  I  have 
thought  that  he  would  at  the  last,  rise 
up  in  judgment  against  me.  To  hear  of 
one  born  in  a  heathen  land,  so  soon  after 
hearing  of  a  Saviour,  devoting  himself  to 
his  service,  ought  to  fill  me  with  shame 
and  grief.  His  concern  for  the  souls  of 
sinners  was  truly  remarkable.  In  his 
diary,  while  speaking  of  them,  he  quotes 
these  lines: — 

" '  Sinners,  you  live  devoid  of  peace ; 
A  thousand   stings   within  your  breast. 
Deprive  your  souls  of  ease.' 


MAEY     C.     GREENLEAF.  25 

"  Ah !  thought  I,  I  can  witness  to  this 
truth  ;  for  surely  my  daily  experience 
proves  that  '  there  is  no  peace  to  the 
wicked.' 

"  Yesterday  Mrs.  Moody  called.  Before 
she  went,  she  spoke  to  me  on  the  concerns 
of  my  soul,  and  encouraged  me  to  enter 
in  at  the  straight  gate.  Dear  woman  !  Per- 
fectly happy  in  the  enjoyment  of  religion ! 
0,  what  blessedness  is  hers.  May  I  be 
like  her  in  devotedness  to  the  service  of 
the  Redeemer.  In  the  evening  attended 
the  monthly  concert  at  the  chapel.  After 
reading  an  extract  from  the  Recorder, 
uncle  D.  addressed  the  assembly  very 
solemnly,  particularly  the  impenitent,  and 
closed  with  a  most  fervent  prayer  for 
them,  and  the  whole  world.  He  prayed 
that  no  impenitent  sinner  might  go  from 
that  place,  unsolemnized,  unpenetrated, 
impenitent   still.      I   hoped  I    should   not 


26  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

return  home  without  a  deep  impression 
being  made  on  my  mind.  But,  ah  !  this 
hope  was  not  realized. 

"  I  recollect  Mr.  Byington  observed  in 
a  meeting,  that  sinners  were  apt  to  think 
that  this  or  that  meeting  would  convert 
them,  that  the  conversation  of  such  a 
friend  would  awaken  them,  and  did  not 
realize  their  immediate  duty  was  to  repent. 
This  I  then  thouglit,  and  still  think  is  my 
case. 

"  Thursday  was  the  fast,  preparatory  to 

the  sacrament.     E.    C was   admitted 

to  the  church.  She  is  only  fifteen  years 
of  age,  and  dates  the  change  in  her  feel- 
ings two  years  since,  when  she  observed 
that  she  was  much  distressed  that  she  had 
lived  thirteen  years  to  no  purpose.  But 
I  have  lived  more  than  nineteen  years 
'  without  God  and  without  hope  in  the 
world.'      Is   it    not    then,    high    time    to 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  27 

awake  out  of  sleep  ?  Why  should  I  choose 
to  perish,  when  an  all-sufficient  Saviour 
is  provided  for  me  ?  " 

"  Tuesday  eve.,   Sept.  IWi. — Oh,  what 
a  day  has  this  been  to  me !     Solemn  as 

eternity.     Mr.  H took  tea  here.     He 

appears  entirely  devoted  to  religion.  Be- 
fore he  went  away,  he  followed  me  into 
the  other  room,  and  conversed  in  the 
most  solemn  manner.  He  said  he  had 
been  conversing  with  a  friend  of  mine 
respecting  my  state,  and  he  thought  it  a 
very  dangerous  one.  To  be  only  seeking, 
not  striving  to  enter  in  at  the  straight 
gate." 

"  Saturday  afternoon.     Mr.  H called 

this  morning,  conversed  with  me,  and 
prayed.  At  ten  o'clock  went  to  Miss 
H 's.     Mr.  W.  conversed  with  me  for 


28  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

nearly   a    half   hour.      Then   Mr.   H- 


came  in.  '  Mary,'  said  he,  '  are  you  not 
a  Christian  yet  ? '  I  told  him  I  had  no 
evidence  that  I  was.  He  conversed  and 
prayed  with  us.     I  returned  home,  (after 

calling  to  see ,  who  is  very  anxious,) 

much  distressed,  and  have  been  so  most 
of  the  time  since.  It  seems  as  if  the 
Bible  was  full  of  threatenings  to  me. 
Such  passages  of  alarm  as  I  never  before 
knew  were  in  the  Bible.  Lord,  have  com- 
passion on  my  soul,  or  I  perish !  " 

'■'■Evening. — Attended  meeting.  Mr.  H — 
was  there,  and  very  solemn,  but  0,  it 
seems  as  if  I  had  returned  to  entire  stu- 
pidity. My  heart  seems  unaffected,  and 
I  am  so  afraid  that  the  Spirit  has  departed 
from  me,  that  it  seems  as  if  1  must  not 
sleep  at  night,  lest  I  awake  in  hell." 


MARY     C.      GREENLEAF.  29 

"  Sabbath  twilight. — Attended   meetiiig- 

all  day.    Mr.  W preached  very  solemnly, 

but  oh,  it  seems  as  if  my  serious  impres- 
sions were  fast  leaving  me.  I  cannot 
bear  the  idea  of  going  back  to  the  world, 
for  I  have  reason  to  suppose  that  this  is 
the  last  call  I  shall  receive ;  and  0 !  a 
false  hope  appears  still  more  dangerous. 
What  shall  I  do  ?  If  God  should  say 
concerning  me,  '  My  Spirit  shall  no  longer 
strive '  with  her ;  it  would  be  just,  but  it 
appears  so  awful  to  me  that  I  know  not 
how  to  bear  the  thought." 

"  Tuesday  evening. — My  mind  has  been 
composed  to-day,  though  I  have  feared  it 
was  only  stupidity.  Yet  sometimes  the 
astonishing  compassion  of  Jesus,  and  my 
own  ingratitude,  have  almost  swallowed 
up  my  thoughts.  My  hope  is  somewhat 
strengthened.     A  hymn  which  Mr.  Milton 


80  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

read  yesterday  at  the  chapel  was  made 
precious  to  me.     It  begins : — 

'  Do  I  not  love  thee,   O   my  Lord  ? ' 

Have  read  it  to-day,  and  if  not  greatly 
deceived,  it  expresses  my  feelings." 

"  Wednesday  evening. — Went  to  the 
chapel.  A  sermon  on  these  words,  '  Hin- 
der me  not,'  was  read,  and  if  not  greatly 
deceived,  it  was  comforting   to   my  soul. 

and  spent  the  afternoon  here. 

Was  enabled  to  converse  on  religious  sub- 
jects.    To  God  be  all  the  glory." 

"  Thursday  evening,  2Sd — My  hope  to- 
day has  been  strengthened.     Evening  went 

with to  the  society  of  young  ladies. 

Felt  a  sweet  composure,  though  at  times 
feared  it  was  all  delusion.  Lord,  save 
me  from  a  false  hope." 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  31 

^'■Friday  eve.,2ith. — My  hope  brightens." 

"  Sabbath  evening",  October  M. — If  not 
greatly  deceived,  enjoyed  this  Sabbath 
very  much  ;  though  I  have  great  reason 
to  lament  my  wandering  thoughts,  and 
that  I  have  been  so  little  engaged  in  the 
service  of  God." 

"  Tuesday  evening-. — This  afternoon  at- 
tended a  female  meeting.  If  not  deceived, 
think  I  did  enjoy  it  more  than  I  ever  did 
any  worldly   pleasure." 

"  Friday  noon,  Sth. — Yesterday  was  the 
fast  previous  to  the  communion.  Uncle 
Dana  preached  a  most  encouraging  sermon 
in  the  morning,  Mr.  Miltimore  a  very  good 

one  in  the  afternoon.     and were 

admitted  to  the  church.  It  was  a  solemn 
scene.  If  not  deceived,  could  say  that 
my  evidences  were  similar  to  theirs. 


« 

32  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

"  Last  evening  attended  uncle  D- 


inquiry  meeting.  It  was  very  interesting, 
though  I  was  afterwards  afraid  lest  I  said 
more  than  I  felt. 

"  Oh,  may  I  live  more  as  an  hourly 
expectant  of  Death,  Judgment,  and  Eter- 
nity. I  don't  know  how  it  is,  but  I 
cannot  contemplate  death  with  terror ; 
and  sometimes  I  seem  to  long  for  its 
approach.  I  cannot  relinquish  the  hope 
that  I  love  Jesus,  and  shall  one  day 
dwell  with  him,  and  yet  it  may  be  a  false 
hope.     0  Lord,  let  me  not  be  deceived. 

"  The  Sabbath  was  as  usual  attended 
with  so  much  sin  as  to  mar  my  comfort 
very  much." 

"  Wednesday  evening. — Mr.  Blatchford 
preached  a  very  good  sermon  from  Phil. 
1 :  23.  Having  a  desire  to  depart,  and 
be  with  Christ,  which  is  far  better.     He 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  33 

considered  why  believers  desired  to  depart. 
1st.  Because  it  is  God's  will.  2d.  Be- 
cause God  is  dishonored  here,  and  in 
heaven  he  will  be  honored.  3d.  Because 
this  is  a  sinful  and  imperfect  state.  4th. 
Because  this  is  a  state  of  sorrow.  5th. 
Because  it  is  better  to  be  in  the  imme- 
diate presence  of  their  God  and  Saviour." 

"  April,  1820.  I  think  I  do  not  wish 
to  stop  short  of  perfection.  To  this  I 
never  shall  attain  in  this  world,  therefore 
great  exertion  will  be  always  necessary. 
Satan  is  never  idle  ;  he  is  always  on  the 
watch  for  opportunities  to  tempt  and  ruin 
the  soul,  and  shall  I  sleep  ?    0 !  no. 

"  Am  reading  '  Edwards  on  the  Affec- 
tions.' 'Tis  very  searching.  My  hope  is 
very  much  shaken.  If  it  is  a  false  one,  I 
wish  it  might  be  entirely  taken  from  me. 
0,   thou  who  alone   searchest    the    heart 


34  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

and  triest  the  reins  of  the  children  of 
men,  I  beseech  thee,  let  me  not  mistake 
my  real  character.  May  I  appear  to 
myself  as  I  do  to  thine  Omniscient  eye  !  " 

"  Sabbath  evening,  28^A. — Ah  me  !  How 
cold  have  I  been  this  holy  Sabbath  !  0, 
this  body  of  sin  and  death  which  presses 
me  so  down  to  earth.  Well,  the  tlionght 
is  pleasant,  that  if  I  am  indeed  a  child  of 
God,  it  will  not  be  long  before  I  shall 
drop  it ;  and  then  with  the  ardor  of  a 
seraph,  I  will  love  and  praise  my  Saviour. 

"  Heard  two  excellent  sermons  to-day. 
In  the  morning  the  exposition  was  upon 
Christ's  telling  his  disciples  that  one  of 
them  should  betray  him,  and  their  inquir- 
ing, '  Lord,  is  it  I  ? '  It  was  remarked, 
that  to  the  sincere  and  tender-hearted 
Christian,  the  thought  of  proving  false  to 
Christ,    was    inexpressibly    painful ;    and 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  35 

that  such,  instead  of  suspecting  the  sin- 
cerity of  others,  were  prone  to  suspect 
themselves.  It  was  also  said,  that  it  was 
the  supposition  of  some,  that  faith  con- 
sisted in  a  strong  confidence  of  our  own 
good  estate ;  but  it  was  a  much  better 
sign  to  see  Christians  self-suspicious,  and 
that  doubts  and  fears  were  not  always  to 
be  charged  to  the  score  of  unbelief. 

"  On  a  review  of  the  Sabbath,  have 
reason  to  be  humbled  in  the  dust  at  the 
recollection  of  my  many  sins.  Why  is  it 
that  when  I  go  to  the  house  of  God,  my 
thoughts,  especially  in  prayer,  are  so 
wandering?  Lord,  search  me.  Is  it  be- 
cause I  do  not  love  thee  ?  0,  then,  give 
me  a  heart  to  love  thee  !  Is  it  because 
my  love  is  so  cold  ?  0,  inflame  it.  Let 
my  affections  be   on  things  above." 

These   passages   reveal    a  little   of  the 


36  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

"  horror  of  great  darkness  "  through  which 
Miss  Greenleaf  passed  into  the  dawn  and 
sunlight  of  the  gospel.  We  dare  not  expose 
the  depth  of  that  darkness  to  the  view,  (shall 
we  be  forgiven  for  saying  it?)  of  a  fastidious, 
caviling,  and  superficial  generation.  Yet 
where  thus  the  converting  Spirit  wakens 
the  soul  to  see  "  the  hole  of  the  pit  whence 
it  was  digged,"  it  is  often  preparatory  to 
its  becoming  a  large  recipient  and  dis- 
penser of  gospel  light  and  truth. 

In  December,  1819,  she  was  received 
a  member  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church, 
then  under  the  pastoral  care  of  her  uncle. 
Rev.  Dr.  Dana.  It  was  the  church  of 
her  ancestors,  the  church  in  whose  forma- 
tion and  early  growth,  Whitefield  took  a 
deep  and  active  interest,  and  beneath 
whose  pulpit,  beside  that  of  Parsons  and 
Prince,   rests   his   honored   dust. 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  37 


CHAPTER    II. 


"  Green  as  the  leaf,  and  ever  fair 
Shall"  her  "profession  shine; 
While  fruits  of  holiness  appear, 
Like  clusters  on  the  vine." 


No  sooner  did  Miss  Greenleaf  feel  her 
soul  quickened  into  a  new,  diviner  life, 
than  she  entered  at  once  into  the  duties 
and  enjoyments  of  that  life.  She  began 
earnestly  to  desire  and  seek  the  salvation 
of  others.  She  united  with  three  young 
ladies,  all  members  of  the  same  church, 
in  a  weekly  prayer-meeting.  They  agreed 
to  select  certain  individuals  in  the  number 
of  their  acquaintance,  and  pray  for  their 
conversion.  Also  to  bear  them  in  mind 
in    their  secret  hours  of  devotion   during 

4 


38  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

the  interval ;  and  not  to  cease  pleading 
for  them  until  they  had  reason  to  hope 
that  their  prayers  were  answered.  After 
a  while  they  began  to  think  that  it  was 
selfish  in  them  thus  to  confine  the  sweet 
privilege  of  social  prayer  to  their  own 
small  number.  The  question  also  arose 
whether  they  were  doing  all  which  lay 
in  their  power  for  the  souls  of  these 
young  friends.  They  resolved  to  seek 
opportunities  of  addressing  them  individ- 
ually upon  the  subject  which  lay  so  near 
their  own  hearts  ;  and  to  invite  them  also, 
to  attend  the  meetings.  One  young  lady, 
upon  learning  that  such  earnest  prayer 
was  made  in  her  behalf,  became  deeply 
impressed,  and  before  very  long,  she,  as 
well  as  each  of  the  others,  became,  it  is 
believed,  a  sincere  Christian.  Some  of 
these  are  now  the  mothers  of  large  families. 
Who  can  estimate  the  amount  of  good — 


MA*RY     C.     GREENLEAF.  39 

of  happiness,  resulting  from  that  small 
beginning,— that  dew  of  gTa<;e  descending 
upon  the  hearts  of  four  young  believers, 
and  ascending,  in  the  breath  of  prayer, 
to  its  Divine  source  I  This  meeting  was 
continued  for  a  long  series  of  years,  and 
as  new  members  were  added  to  the  church, 
they  were  invited  to  attend  it. 

Early  in  her  Christian  course  she  and 
seven  others  formed  one  of  the  first  char- 
itable sewing  circles  which  met  in  town. 
It  was  the  germ  of  the  gleaning  circle 
which  still  continues,  and  has  had  ever 
for  its  object  the  cause  of  Home  Missions. 
Of  all  the  leading  benevolent  societies  in 
town,  she  was  an  active  member ;  of  some 
an  ofllcer.  These,  together  with  sewing 
circles  for  beneficent  and  local  objects, 
numbered  more  than  fourteen.  When,  in 
1856  she  left  the  city,  she  placed  her 
annual  subscription  to  some,  if  not  all  of 


40  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

these  societies,  in  the  hands  of  a  friend,  to 
be  paid  as  they  fell  due.  Thus  her  con- 
nection with  them  ceased  but  with  her 
life. 

In  the  Sabbath  school  she  was  a  teacher 
from  its  organization  in  October,  1817. 
It  was  then,  and  for  years  afterward, 
deemed  essential  for  the  pupils  to  learn 
and  recite  correctly  large  portions  of 
Scripture.  Thus  was  the  mind  early 
stored  with  themes  for  devout  meditation 
in  future  hours  of  wakefulness  and  watch- 
ing— in  times  of  sickness  and  old  age. 

In  August,  1823,  Rev.  Mr.  Williams, 
then  pastor  of  the  church,  formed  a  Bible 
class  ajnong  the  ladies  of  his  society  which 
she  joined.  Some  of  the  earlier  subjects 
for  discussion  and  Scripture  proof  were : 
"  The  Evidences  of  tlie  Divme  Origin  of 
Scripture,"  "  The  Character  of  God," 
"  The  Ultimate  End  of  Man."     Upon  these 


MARY     C.      GREENLEAF.  41 

subjects  in  their  divisions,  he  gave  simul- 
taneously a  course  of  public  lectures.  In 
the  class-room,  Scripture  proofs,  and  the 
views  of  the  members,  were  presented  in 
writing,  while  the  pastor  remarked,  and 
questioned,  encouraging  the  utmost  free- 
dom of  replj  and  discussion.  Perceiving 
Miss  Greenleaf's  answers  to  be  always 
ready  and  to  the  point,  Mr.  Williams 
resolved  still  farther  to  sound  the  depths 
of  her  doctrinal  knowledge.  His  questions 
to  her  became  searching,  and  resembled 
at  times  the  process  of  cross-examination. 
A  lady  of  high  intelligence  present,  who 
had  been  an  honored  Bible  class  teacher 
long  before  Sabbath  schools  were  one  of 
our  institutions,  rejoiced  that  she  was  not 
in  Miss  Greenleaf's  place.  But  her  ac- 
quaintance with  Scripture,  and  with  the 
system  of  doctrine  in  which  she  had  been 
educated,    was    thorough    and    accurate  ; 


42  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 


and  the  clearness  and  simplicity  of  her 
thoughts  came  out  in  her  replies.  Her 
pastor  remarked  afterward  to  the  lady 
above  alluded  to,  "  I  have  tried  in  vain 
to  puzzle  Mary  Greenleaf." 

Her  own  method  af  Sabbath  school 
teaching  was  not  much  varied  from  the 
first,  although  at  times,  the  manual  was 
changed.  Som,etimes  she  gave  out  written 
questions  to  the  class,  a  few  of  which  we 
transcribe,  to  sliow  the  simplicity  of  the 
method  by  which  she  brought  before  the 
minds  of  her  pupils  the  most  important 
practical  duties,  and  th«  most  interesting 
historic  facts  and  characters. 

"  Wliat  blessings  are  promised  ta  the 
poor  in  spirit  ?  " 

"  Wliat  blessings  to-  those  wlio  mourn 
for  sin  ? " 

Each  of  the  beatitudes  furnished  a 
question. 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  43 

"  What  was  Paul's  manner  of  life  before 
his  conversion  ?  " 

"  What   after  his  conversion  ?  " 

"  What  was  his  language  iii  view  of 
death  ? " 

"  How  are   we  to  pray  ?  " 

"  When  are  we  to  pray  ?  " 

"  For  whom  are  we  to  pray  ?  " 

"  In  whose  name,  and  by  whose  assist- 
ance should  our  prayers  be  offered  ? " 

Another  series  of  questions  framed  to 
elicit  in  reply  the  biography  of  a  long 
succession  of  Old  Testament  worthies  com- 
menced with  the  following  : — 

"  Mention  some  of  the  principal  inci- 
dents in  the  life  of  Adam." 

The  question  for  each  week  was  copied 
by  the  pupil  into  a  note-book,  and  the 
proof  texts  and  replies  written  out,  to  be 
recited  or  read  the  succeeding  Sabbath. 
By  this  method  of  searching  the  Scriptures 


44  LIFE     AND      LETTERS 

carefully   for  proofs,   many  precious   pas- 
sages  were   indelibly   engraven   upon   the 
memory  ;  which  certainly  proves  it  to  be 
far   superior   to   the   present  easy   one   of 
reading  off  the  references  without  previous 
study  ;  and  if  pursued  generally,  it  might 
save  some  public  speakers  and  exhorters 
the  mortification  of  misquoting  Scripture. 
"  When   I   come   to    one    of    those    well- 
remembered   texts,"     says    a    member   of 
Miss    Greenleaf's    class,    "  it    seems    like 
meeting  an  old  friend."     After  the  recita- 
tion, much  practical  instruction,  deduced 
from   the    lesson,   was    invariably    added. 
Though   ever   ready   to   give  information, 
Miss   Greenleaf  did  not   encourage  much 
discussion    in    the    class.      When    it    was 
asked,  "  What  is  your  opinion  upon  this 
or  that  point,"  the  appeal  was  directly  to 
the   Bible,    and    it    was   final.       She   was 
uniformly   pleasant,   polite   and   dignified. 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  45 

No  trifling  conversation  or  conduct  arose 
in  the  class.  Her  presence  forbade  it,  and 
even  the  desire  to  indulge  in  it.  Yet 
her  pupils  regarded  her  as  "  a  model 
teacher,"  and  it  is  believed  they  could 
generally  echo  the  exclamation  of  her 
Indian  protege,  "How  I  did  love  Miss 
Greenleaf!" 

Her  care  of  these  youth  did  not  cease 
with  the  fresh  Sabbath  morning  hour 
devoted  to  them.  She  occasionally  invited 
them  to  her  house  for  an  evening's  social 
conference  and  prayer.  Two  of  those  who 
had  been  longest  in  her  class,  used  latterly 
to  pass  an  evening  each  week  with  her. 
It  was  always  closed  with  prayer.  Youth 
is  prone  to  extremes.  Upon  one  of  these 
evenings  they  indulged  in  a  strain  of  light 
and  mirthful  conversation  not  conducive 
to  spiritual  improvement.  They  could 
never  forget  the  sweet  and  earnest  manner 


46  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

in  which  she  drew  near,  and  expostulated 
with  them,  nor  her  request  that  evening 
at  the  throne  of  grace,  which  was  that 
they  "  might  be  enabled  to  maintain  a 
cheerful  spirit,  but  be  preserved  from 
levity."  Prayer  so  evidently  blended  with 
all  her  duties  that  it  is  not  surprising  she 
was  remarked  upon,  as  being  not  only 
devout,  but  singularly  apposite  in  her 
petitions.  These  two  young  ladies,  one 
of  whom  continued  with  her  ten,  the 
other  twenty  years,  preserve  as  precious 
relics  the  Scripture  texts,  which  she  gave 
them  for  a  long  series  of  Sabbaths,  in  her 
neat  and  legible  autograph.  These  were 
selected  for  each  member  of  the  class, 
with  reference  to  their  peculiar  character, 
or  state  of  mind.  "  No  one,"  says  Miss 
M.  P.  S.  "  can  feel  her  loss  as  I  do,  for 
she  has  done  more  for  me  than  she  can 
have  done  for  any  one  else.     I  can  never 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAP. 


47 


tell  how  much  I  owe  to  her.  I  have  in 
my  possession  more  than  seventy  letters 
which  she  has  written  me." 

Miss  Greenleaf  used  frequently  to  beg 
this  pupil  and  friend  not  to  trust  so  much 
to  her,  or  to  any  arm  of  flesh.  She  said 
playfully  to  her  one  day,  "  I  am  afraid  I 
shall  have  to  do  some  dreadful  thing,  to 
keep  you  from  leaning  so  much  upon  me." 
Miss.  S.  replied,  "You  could  not  do  it. 
Miss  Greenleaf.  If  I  heard  that  you  had 
done  any  thing  wrong,  or  had  spoken  ill 
of  me,  I  should  go  directly  to  you,  and 
ask  you  about  it." 

A  few  of  the  many  notes  she  addressed 
to  the  members  of  her  class,  we  give. 


LIFE     AND     LETTERS 


"  Sabbath  evening. 
"  My  dear  Mary, 

"  I  am   sorry  to    find   you   are   still 

walking  in  darkness,  and  see  no  light, — 

but  the  Bible   directs  such,  to    '  trust  in 

the  name  of  the  Lord  and  stay  themselves 

upon   God,'  and  what  better  direction  can 

I  give  you  ?    It  says  also,    '  It  is  good  that 

a  man  should  both  hope  and  quietly  vmit 

for   the   salvation  of    God.'      Sometimes, 

dear  M.   I  have  feared  that  you  did  not 

wait  patiently  for   the    Lord, — but  when 

you  were  in   the  dark,   indulged   a   kind 

of  restless  anxiety  for  relief,  which  seems 

not   quite   like   the  feeling,    '  I  will  bear 

the   indignation   of    the    Lord    because   I 

have   sinned   against   him.'      Now  we  do 

not   deserve   comfort,   and  if  God  sees   it 

best  to  try  us  with  the  loss  of  it,  should 

we  at  once  conclude  that  the  evidence  he 


MARY     C.      GREENLEAF.  49 

has  given  us,  in  times  past,  was  delusion  ? 
What  I  said  to  you  respecting  grieving 
the  Spirit,  I  meant  with  regard  to  your 
disbelieving  what  you  had  experienced. 
But  I  am  far  from  thinking  that  you 
have  grieved  him  away  forever.  No,  I 
trust  you  are  a  child  of  God,  and  his 
loving  kindness  he  will  never  take  away 
from  you  ;  and  though  your  faith  is  very 
feeble,  yet  it  is  saving ;  and  you  must 
follow  in  the  footsteps  of  the  flock,  and 
trust  the  good  Shepherd  with  your  inter- 
ests. I  do  not  like  to  have  you  speak  of 
giving  all  up  and  being  almost  in  despair. 
I  would  rather  you  would  adopt  tlie  reso- 
lution that  you  will  persevere^  as  long  as 
life  lasts — and  never  give  over ;  for  Christ 
says,  (and  can  you  not  believe  him  ?) 
'  Him  that  cometh  unto  me,  I  will  in  no 
wise  cast  out.'  Oh,  do  not  pore  over 
your  poor,  weak,  sinful   self,  but    reflect 


50  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

on  his  wondrous  love — his  power,  his  will 
to  save,—'  his  heart  is  made  of  tender- 
ness,'— and  I  often  think  if  you  would 
only  repose  as  much  confidence  in  Christ, 
as  you  do  in  me,  your  doubts  would  all 
vanish,  and  you  would  be  able  to  say,  '  I 
know  that  my  Redeemer  lives.'  " 


Again  she  writes : 

"  One  of  the  best  remedies  for  religious 
despondency  is  activity  in  the  cause  of 
Christ.  Try  to  do  good  to  others — and 
in  this  way,  you  may  gain  evidence  of 
your  own  union  to  Christ.  I  believe  all 
Christians  are  more  or  less  troubled  with 
wandering  thoughts  in  prayer — it  is  part 
of  the  conflict  with  the  body  of  sin  and 
dontl),  which  we  are  called  to  maintain — 
aud  so  long  as  they  are  grievous  and 
hateful  to  you,  afford  no  ground  of  dis- 


MART     C.     GREENLEAF.  51 


couragement.  As  to  your  leaving  the 
Sabbath  school,  it  would  be  very  painful 
to  me  to  part  with  you—  and  if  you  are 
not  tired  of  me,  as  I  often  think  the 
scholars  must  be,  I  hope  you  will  remain 
where  you  are." 


"  Sabbath  morning. 
"  My  dear  S., 

"  I  have  thought  much  of  you  since 
my  last  interview  with  you,  and  have 
wished  that  I  may  be  directed  to  speak  to 
you  a  word  in  season.  It  is,  undoubtedly, 
far  better  to  give  up  a  false  hope,  than 
to  retain  it.  I  cannot  judge  whether 
yours  is  false  or  not, — but  it  will  be  safe 
for  you  to  set  about  obtaining  one  which 
shall  be  more  satisfactory  to  yourself,  and 
one  which  will  never  '  make  ashamed  ;  ' 
and  I  hope,  this  day  will  be  devoted   to 


52  LIFE     AND     LETTEES. 

most  earnest  prayer,  that  God  will  enable 
yoii  to  exercise  true  faith  in  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.  I  think  you  had  better  go 
to  the  communion  table, — and  before,  as 
well  as  at  the  time,  try  to  believe  in  the 
Lord  Jesus, — and  to  consecrate  yourself 
entirely  to  him,  soul  and  body,  for  time 
and  eternity.  Ask  that  God  will  remove 
the  indifference  of  which  you  complain, — 
that  he  will  give  you  true  repentance, 
that  he  will  help  you  to  pray,  and  give 
you  to  delight  in  prayer, — that  he  will 
open  your  understanding  to  see  the  beauty 
of  his  Word,  so  that  it  may  be  sweet  to 
your  taste, — beg  him  to  give  you  that 
love  for  the  Sabbath,  and  pleasure  in  its 
most  spiritual  duties,  which  characterizes 
the  children  of  God.  To  give  up  your 
present  hope,  and  not  to  strive  for  a  better 
one  would  be  a  most  dangerous  course. 
If  you  have  been  born  of  the  Spirit  before. 


MAEY     C.     GEEENLEAF.  53 

the  course  I  recommend  will  tend  to 
strengthen  and  confirm  your  faith  and 
hope  ;  and  if  you  have  not  been  a  Christian, 
it  is  the  way  to  become  one.  I  endeavor 
to  remember  you  in  prayer, — and  sliall 
be  glad  of  an  interview  with  you  soon ; 
or  to  receive  any  thing  in  writing  from 
you.  But  be  sure  to  go  to  the  Lord's 
table  this  morning. 

"  Your  affectionate  teacher, 

"M.  C.  G." 


^'-Tuesday  eve.,  9  o'clock. — I  thank  you, 
my  dear  Alice,  for  the  frankness  of  your 
note ;  and  although  I  am  sorry  to  learn 
from  it  that  you  are  in  a  '  lukewarm ' 
state,  yet  I  am  glad  to  know  it, — for 
perhaps  God  may  employ  me  as  an  instru- 
ment of  good  to  you.  I  know,  by  expe- 
rience, too  much  of  the  decay  of  spiritual 


54  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

affections,  not  to  feel  for  others.  The 
natural  tendency  of  our  hearts  is  down- 
wards ;  and  if  we  would  set  our  '  affections 
on  things  above,'  we  must  as  it  were  row 
against  the  stream,  and  cannot  expect  as 
Dr.  Griffin  says,  '  to  be  carried  as  dead 
logs  to  heaven.'  ***** 
"  My  excellent  grandfather  used  to  say 
that  '  when  we  felt  little  heart  to  pray, 
then  we  should  pray  the  more, —  for  it 
was  certain  that  we  needed  Divine  help.' 
And,  perhaps  the  ordinances  of  God's 
house  may  be  the  channels  of  grace  to 
your  soul,  if  you  endeavor  to  mix  silent 
prayer  with  hearing.  Such  petitions  as. 
Lord,  fasten  this  truth  on  my  heart, — 
bless  this  word  to  my  quickening;  and 
it  may  be  answered  by  the  Word's  being 
made  quick  and  powerful  to  you.  Christ 
came  that  his  people  '  might  have  life,  and 
have  it  more  abundantly;'  let  us  ask  him  to 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  55 

revive  his  work  in  our  souls.  *  *  *  "^g 
must  look  after  'the  little  foxes  that  spoil 
the  vines ;'  and  we  must  be  willing  to  have 
small  and  great  sins  crucified  and  slain. 
If  we  do  not  return  to  God,  we  may- 
make  it  necessary  that  he  should  chastise 
us  back.  But  0,  let  us  go  to  Him  at 
once,  and  he  will  receive  us  through 
Christ.  You  ask  me  to  tell  you  how  to 
come  to  Christ.  I  trust,  dear  Alice,  you 
know  by  experience.  Repeat  the  surren- 
der of  yourself  to  Him.  Go  as  a  guilty, 
self-condemned,  penitent,  but  not  despair- 
ing sinner ;  just  as  '  she  who  touched  him 
in  the  press,  and  healing  virtue  stole,' 
and  your  success  is  certain. 

"  In  a  state  of  mind,  in  1823,  somewhat 
similar  to  yours,  I  found  the  frequent 
reading  of  the  second  and  third  chapters 
of  Jeremiah  much  blessed  to  me.  I  have 
written   plainly    to   you,  my    dear   Alice ; 


56  LIFE      AND     LETTEKS 

but  I  trust  no  apology  is  necessary.  I 
would  take  to  my  own  heart  the  same 
advice  I  have  given  you.  And  while  I 
hope  still  to  remember  you  in  my  prayers, 
I  trust  you  will  remember  me  in  yours ; 
and  do  select  some  impenitent  friends  to 
pray  for  particiilarly.  It  will  do  you  good. 
I  hope  your  health  is  better,  and  that  we 
may  meet  on  the  Sabbath. 
"  Yours,   affectionately, 

"M.  C.  G." 


TO    THE    SAME. 
Written  in   1856   from  Wapanucka. 

"For  Alice  only. 

"  Sept.,  2Sth. — Who,  my  dear  Alice, 
would  ever  have  thought  you  would  want 
a  little  bit  all  to  yourself?  But  here  it  is. 
Yet  when  you  have  so  much  advice  from 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  57 

the  pulpit,  and  in  other  ways,  what  can 
I  say  ?  I  can  repeat  some  of  Paul's 
injunctions,  '  Set  your  affections  on  things 
above.'  '  Pray  without  ceasing.'  "  *  lii 
every  thing  give  thanks.'  '  Let  the  word 
of  Christ  dwell  in  you  richly  in  all  wis- 
dom,' &c.  B.ead  and  study,  Rom.  12 ; 
and  1  Cor.  13  ;  and  forget  not  the  exhorta- 
tion of  James,  '  Be  ye  doers  of  the  Word, 
and  not  hearers  only.^  Avoid  light  read- 
ing. It  may  not  always,  under  some 
circumstances  he  wrong  to  read  a  work 
of  fiction  ;  but  to  read  such  books  fre- 
quently, and  especially  to  the  neglect  of 
the  Bible,  will  sooner  or  later,  be  a  great 
injury  to  a  Christian ;  especially  is  the 
example  pernicious  to  younger  Christians, 
and  to  the  unconverted.  I  often  think  of 
what  Henry  Martyn  says  in  his  diary ;  it 
is  to  this  effect :  whenever  he  was  more 
interested  in  any  book  than  in  the  Bible, 


58  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

he  closed  it,  and  took  up  that  best  of  books, 
and  read  till  his  declining  interest  was 
re-kindled.  I  hope  you  go  to  some  female 
prayer^meeting.  I  think  it  will  be  for 
your  profit ;  and  you  and  Mary  can  often 
converse  on  religious  experience,  which 
perhaps,  may  be  profitable,' — especially  if 
it  lead  you  away  from  yourselves  to  Christ ; 
for  we  are  in  danger  of  making  our  experi- 
ence a  Saviour,  or  living  upon  frames  and 
feelings  rather  than  upon  Christ.  In  the 
Presbyterian  Magazine  for  June,  there  is 
a  very  good  piece  on  '  religious  declension,' 
which  it  would  be  well  to  read.  E.  G. 
takes  the  magazine.  All  of  us  have  occa- 
sion to  keep  very  near  to  God,  and  to  sit 
down  at  the  feet  of  Christ,  to  learn  of 
him  and  to  be  strengthened  by  him ;  for 
'  without  him  we  can  do  nothing.' 

That  you   may   daily   '  grow  in   grace, 
and    in    the   knowledge   of   Christ,'     and 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAP.  59 

while  you  '  feed  the  lambs,'   be  yourself 

nourished  from  his  fullness,  is  the  prayer  of 

"Yours,  very  affectionately, 

"M.  C.  G." 


EXTRACT. 

"  Dear  ,  excuse  me  if  I  say  I  am 

sorry  that  you  feel  '  dreadfully '  about 
those  matters.  I  would  rather  hear  that 
your  will  is  so  bowed  to  the  will  of  God 
that  you  have  not  an  unpleasant  feeling. 
Will  you  not  pray  and  strive  to  overcome 
what  now  troubles  you  ?  You  know  the 
great  promises  to  '  him  that  overcometh^ 
see  Rev.  2  :  17  ;  and  3d  chap.  5,  12,  and 
21st  verses.  You  will  not  be  offended, 
dear  M.  I  know  with  my  plainness.  I 
have  long  wanted  to  say  something,  be- 
cause  I    feared   you   did    not    feel   quite 


60  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

right,  and  I  know  you  could  not  enjoy 
religion  so  well,  if  any  unkind  feeling 
was  harbored  towards  any  one.  I  think 
I  should  have  spoken  before, — I  know 
well  enough  what  must  be  very  trying 
to  you, — but  we  must  hear  and  forbear 
and  forgive.  I  wish  you  would  talk  with 
Mrs.  C.  on  the  subject ;  for  she  is  so 
remarkable  for  a  meek  and  quiet  spirit, 
that  she  is  a  pattern  for  us  all.  I  often 
find  my  impetuosity  checked  by  her  gen- 
tleness. I  am  glad  you  enjoy  calling  on 
her.  She  is  a  dear  woman,  and  a  faithful 
and   bountiful   friend   to   me.      *       *       * 

Love  to .     Tell  her  to  set  you  a  good 

example." 

Many  more  of  her  letters  to  her  class 
had  we  transcribed  ;  but  let  these  suffice. 
They  show  that  she  was  an  earnest  worker: 
tliat   putting   aside   the  natural  desire  to 


MARY     C.     GBEENLEAF.  61 

be  agreeable  to  those  young  persons  who 
came  under  her  influence,  she  sought 
rather  to  lead  them  onward  and  upward. 
That  they  in  return  became  sincerely 
attached  to  her  is  certain.  Among  her 
papers  is  a  letter  from  a  member  of  her 
class,  written  upon  learning  that  she  must 
part  with  Miss  Greenleaf,  as  she  too  truly 
foreboded,  to  see  her  no  more  on  earth. 
It  is  full  of  genuine  pathos,  discovering  a 
love  and  gratitude,  strong  to  intensity. 
"  He  that  loseth  his  life  for  my  sake, 
shall   find   it." 

In  that  delicate  and  difficult  duty  of 
giving  reproof; — difficult,  because  that 
degree  of  departure  from  the  simplicity 
wliich  is  in  Christ,  which  implies  the 
necessity  of  reproof,  implies  also  that 
the  mind  is  in  no  good  state  to  receive 
it,  Miss  Greenleaf's  manner  was  doubt- 
less    often     surpassed    by     that     of    her 


62  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

mother.  Eminent  to  a  proverb,  for  her 
charity,  which  was  a  counterpart  of  the 
apostle's  description,  it  was  said  of  Mrs. 
Greenleaf,  that  she  could  reprove  witii- 
out  giving  offence,  an  attainment  which 
her  daughter  did  not  always  reach. 
We  find  the  following  entry  in  Miss 
Greenleaf 's  journal. 

"  Made  two  attempts  to  do  good.  One 
well  received.  The  other  occasioned  an 
outburst  of  passion  from  several  young 
church  members.  But  they  have  since 
appeared  better,  and  I  trust  good  will 
yet  result,  as  I  felt  it  to  be  an  im- 
perious  duty   to   administer   reproof." 

Which  of  the  angry  ones  it  was  who 
soon  after  did  her  "  an  unexpected  kind- 
ness,"   does   not   appear. 

The  following  extract  from  a  letter 
to    a    choice     friend     gives   her     opinion 


MART     C.     GREENLEAF.  63 

upon  au  important  subject ; — an  opinion 
carried   out   fully   in   her   practice. 

"  You  ask  me,  my  dear  friend,  to 
point  out  some  of  your  deficiencies. 
Alas !  I  have  so  many  myself,  that 
you  may  well  exclaim,  '  Physician,  heal 
thyself.'  How  then  can  I  speak  of 
others  ?  Ought  I  not  first  to  cast  the 
beam  out  of  my  own  eye — before  at- 
tempting to  pull  motes  out  of  others  ? 
Yet  since  you  have  requested  it,  and 
promised  to  love  and  thank  me  for  it, 
I    will     venture     to     say,    that     I    have 

thought  my   dear paid  too    much 

attention  to  ornament  in  dress,  and 
spent  too  much  money  for  such  articles 
as  were  strictly  ornamental.  While  the 
heathen  world  are  perishing  for  lack  of 
vision,  it  has  long  seemed  to  me  that 
Christians     should     exercise     more     self- 


64  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

denial,  that  they  might  give  more  liber- 
ally to  the  treasury  of  the  Lord. 
Although  I  know  it  is  difficult  to  say 
just  how  much  they  should  expend  on 
themselves,  how  much  their  rank  in  so- 
ciety renders  proper,  yet  it  seems  to 
me,  they  ought  generally,  to  dispense 
with  Jeivels  and  such  trinkets,  and  thus 
show  to  the  world  that  their  affections 
are  on  better  things.  I  do  not  mean 
to  advocate  negligence  in  dress,  but 
only  a  plain,  neat,  cheap  style — not  such 
as  to  appear  singular,  and  attract 
notice  ;  but  such  an  one  as  would  be 
the    happy   medium    between    negligence 

and  extravagance.     Now,  my  dear  ,  I 

shall  expect  for  this  plainness  of  speech 
that  you  will  repay  me  in  the  same  coin 
— and  tell  me  of  my  own  more  promi- 
nent defects — as  I  shall  certainly  expect. 
I  wish  it  and  shall  hope  to  profit  by  it." 


MAEY     C,     GEEENLEAF.  65 

Both  Mrs.  and  Miss  Greenleaf  felt 
called  at  times  to  admonish  those  near 
and  dear  to  them  Giving  reproof  was 
a  duty  which  they  neither  sought  nor 
avoided,  and  the  writer,  who  has  more 
than  once  received  of  this  "  excellent 
oil,"  at  their  hands,  can  testify  that  they 
gave  it  in  a  most  faithful,  affectionate, 
and  convincing  manner ;  not  from  the 
love  of  it,  but  because  they  could  not 
turn  out  of  the  narrow  way  to  avoid 
a  cross.  They  found,  as  every  Christian 
may  find,  that  "  the  way  of  the  hardest 
duty  is  the  way  of  the  fullest  com- 
fort." Mrs.  Greenleaf  s  special  mission 
however,  seemed  to  be  to  give  religious 
counsel  and  encouragement  rather  than 
rebuke.  Her  pleasant  sunny  parlor 
was  the  resort  of  old  and  young,  of 
persons  differing  in  rank  and  religious 
creed,    in    each    of    whom     she    took   a 


66  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

warm  interest.*  Her  prayers  ascended 
for  each,  individually.  Her  cheerful, 
loving  spirit  diffused  around  her  an 
Indian-summer  atmosphere.  Her  words 
refreshed  like  the  dew  or  the  summer 
shower.  Her  thorough  understanding 
and  deep  experimental  acquaintance  with 
the  doctrines  of  grace,-— her  tact  at 
drawing  out,  and  making  herself  ac- 
quainted with  the  heart-wants  of  her 
guests,  and  supplying  those  wants  from 
the  gospel  fountain ; — these  were  some 
of  the  sources  of  her  influence.  The 
tide  of  company  usually  ebbed  at  even- 
ing. Then  it  was  very  pleasant  to  spend 
an  hour  or  two  by  the  side  of  the  small 
wood  fire,  listening  to  the  conversation  of 
that  mother  in  Israel,  whose  thoughts  were 
all   of  heavenly   things.      She    had   some 


*  Appendix,  note  A. 


MART     C.     6REENLEAP.  67 


remarkable  conversion  to  relate,  which 
had  recently  come  to  her  knowledge,  or 
sought  to  ascertain  the  state  of  heart  of 
her  young  relative  or  friend,  or  insinuated 
her  wise  and  Christian  counsels ;  or  she 
had  some  excellent  letter  or  two  recently 
received,  to  proffer  ;  which  last,  being  not 
so  attractive  as  her  own  words,  could  be 
evaded  by  a  show  of  needle-work. 

Upon  her  daughter  necessarily  devolved 
the  household  labor,  and  a  part  of  the 
pecuniary  support  of  the  family.  In  Mary's 
domestic  arrangements,  the  most  perfect 
order  and  propriety  reigned.  Every  thing 
seemed  done  in  the  right  time  and  manner, 
yet  none  could  tell  when  or  how.  Her 
mother's  increasing  deafness  rendered  her 
presence  in  the  parlor  desira,ble.  She  was 
usually  at  hand ;  ever  ready  to  supply 
facts,  and  correct  slight  mistakes  occa- 
sioned   by   Mrs.    G's    imperfect    hearing. 


68  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

She  was  never  in  the  way,  however  close 
or  confidential  the  conversation  grew,  being 
one  who  inspired  instant  and  entire  confi- 
dence. She  was  never  long  without  some 
added  care, — a  public  school,  one  or  two 
pupils,  or  a  boarder.  She  quietly  put 
aside  all  sympathy  in  view  of  these,  and 
similar  efforts  ;  saying  once  in  the  case 
of  a  young  lady  then  staying  with  her, 
that  her  society  more  than  compensated 
for  the  trouble.  In  that  and  other  in- 
stances, this  temporary  residence  was  the 
commencement  of  a  life-long  friendship. 
Her  patience  and  gentleness  in  teaching 
and  voluntarily  aiding  in  their  studies, 
and  in  needle-work,  those  who,  unlike 
herself,  were  slow,  unskillful,  unambitious, 
was  very  noticeable. 

Her  manner  of  performing  her  various 
duties,  was  as  agreeable  as  the  number 
and     amount    of    them     was     surprising. 


MARY     C.      GREENLEAF.  69 

"  Witliout  haste,  without  rest,"  they  were 
accomplished.  Her  step  was  quick,  but 
never  noisy.  There  was  a  sweet  compo- 
sure in  her  countenance.  If  you  saw  her 
at  church,  or  chapel,  it  seemed  to  assist 
your  own  religious  enjoyment.  You  felt 
that  she  was  feeding  in  "  green  pastures, 
and  beside  still  waters."  I  have  some- 
times seen  a  quiet  smile  steal  over  her 
features  in  the  sanctuary,  and  have  thought 
I  would  give  something  to  know  what  was 
the  (innocent)  train  of  thought  which 
called  it  up. 

Although  her  mother  could  not  hear 
the  preached  Word,  yet  when  able,  she 
always  went  to  the  house  of  God.  Upon 
her  return,  Mary  was  expected  to  go  over 
the  public  services  in  their  order.  So 
much  did  this  exercise  strengthen  her 
memory,  that  she  came  to  repeat  the  ser- 
mon almost  verbatim  :  she  gave  the  lead- 


70  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

ing  petitions  in  each  prayer,  and  found 
for  her  mother  the  hymns.  If  upon  her 
return  from  the  evening  lecture,  Mrs. 
Greenleaf  had  ah-eady  gone  to  rest,  this 
was  an  early  exercise  upon  awaking  tlie 
next  morning. 

In  reviewing  the  numerous  manuscripts 
and  selections  Miss  Greenleaf  has  left 
behind,  abstracts  of  sermons,  and  lectures, 
scrap-books,  society  account-books,  jour- 
nal, record  of  mercies,  letters ;  we  are 
reminded  of  the  words  of  Coleridge : — 

"  All  thoughts,  all  passions,  all  delights, 
AVhatever  stirs  this   mortal  frame, 
All  are  but  ministers  of  love, 
And  feed   his  sacred  flame." 

Love  to  Jesus,  and  the  souls  he  came 
to  save,  was  the  divinely  enkindled  flame 
to  which  all  within,  around,  above,  and 
below  her  ministered. 


MAEY     C.     GREENLEAF.  74 

From  her  letters  to  one  of  the  four 
young  ladies  mentioned  as  forming  the 
first  praying  circle  of  which  she  was  a 
member,  we  extract  enough  to  intimate 
the  daily  course  of  her  thoughts  and  life  ; 
reluctantly  withholding  much  that  would 
be  interesting  to  those  who  knew  and 
loved  her  ;  but  might  weary  the  general 
reader.  We  withhold  also  her  constant 
allusions  to  friends  then  out  of  Christ. 
Speaking  of  these  in  the  third  person,  she 
yet  never  fails  to  expostulate  with  them, 
and  to  entreat  them  to  despise  a  portion 
in  this  world,  for  the  charms  of  that 
incorruptible,  eternal  inheritance  wliich  is 
offered  freely  to  all. 

"  February  \st,  1827.-~The  farther  I 
advance  in  the  Divine  life,  (if  I  advajice 
at  all),  the  more  important  does  it  seem 
to  possess  deep  views  of  the  evil  of  sin,  of 


72  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

the  malignity  of  its  character,  and  its 
odiousness  in  the  sight  of  God ;  and  a 
heart  truly  humbled  for  sin,  is  an  attain- 
ment in  religion  which  I  think  I  desire 
above  all  others,  though  it  is  one  perhaps, 
in  which  I  am  most  deficient.  Do,  dear 
Mary,  pray  for  me,  that  I  may  be  really 
contrite  in  heart, — then  surely,  I  shall 
love  the  Saviour  more,  and  serve  him 
better.  Oh  !  to  walk  with  God, — what 
happiness  !  what  a  privilege  !  Dear  Mary, 
shall  we  not  walk  more  simply  by  faith, 
and  less  by  sight,  as  we  journey  to  that 
better  country  '  where  our  best  friends, 
our  kindred  dwell,  where  God  our  Saviour 
reigns  : 

"  March,  25^/i.— When  I  tell  you  I  have 
not  written  my  brother  for  nearly  three 
months,  and  but  two  letters  in  that  time, 
you  will  suppose  I  could  not  well  write 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAP.  73 

you  sooner.  But  if,  amid  the  numerous 
cares  and  labors  through  which  Providence 
calls  me  to  pass,  I  may  but  serve  God 
faithfully,  and  act  from  a  single  eye  to 
his  glory,  it  is  all  I  can  desire.  I  some- 
times imagine  a  little  more  leisure  would 
be  more  favorable  to  progress  in  religion. 
But  I  svispect  this  is  all  a  mistake, — for 
the  grand  obstacle  is  in  my  heart,  and  not 
in  outward  circumstances. 

'"  Do,  dear  Mary,  pray  for  our  physicians 
and  lawyers  every  day.  0  !  if  they  should 
become  decided  Christians,  what  a  pow- 
erful influence  would  they  exert !  But 
we  want  all  classes,  every  body  to  be  con- 
verted. I  hope  you  will  muster  up  all 
the  intelligence  you  can  get  in  Boston, 
respecting  the  various  eflbrts  to  do  good. 
Tell  us  about  their  Missionary  exertions. 
Have  you  ever  attended  any  of  their  So- 
cieties ?     Mrs.    Emerson,  witli  her    usual 


74  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

benevolence,  has  been  filling  a  box  for 
the  Sandwich  Islands.  But  we  do  far  less 
for  the  heathen  than  we  ought.  0,  could 
we  glance  into  the  miserable  eternity .^  into 
which  they  drop  every  day,  while  we  are 
enjoying  a  luxury  of  religious  privileges, 
surely  our  compassion  would  be  more 
strongly  exerted  ;  and  we  should  not  think 
much  of  all  that  is  now  doing  for  their 
benefit,  but  should  make  far  greater  efforts. 
0  !  may  we,  my  friend,  do  all  we  can  for 
souls  around,  and  souls  everywhere  ;  nor 
cease  from  our  labors  till  called  to  our 
eternal  home. 

"  We  must  resign  our  temporal  interests, 
as  well  as  those  which  are  spiritual,  to 
God.  He  will  provide  all  that  is  needful 
for  us, — and  in  the  best  way  too.  I  often 
think  it  strange,  that  those  who  can  tinist 
their  souls  with  God,  can  be  unreasonably 
anxious  about  temporal  supplies.    We  need 


MAEY     C.     GREENLEAF.  75 

faith,  strong  faith  in  God,  to  support  us 
through  every  trial  and  disappointment." 

"  August  24:th. — As  it  is  your  desire  to 
be  useful,  you  must  leave  it  with  God  to 
choose  in  what  way.  I  have  often  found, 
when  I  have  been  very  desirous  of  being 
useful,  that  some  self-denying  duty  was 
soon  presented, — and  if  I  could  only  per- 
form it  with  cheerfulness  and  fidelity,  it 
seemed  to  be  a  way  of  honoring  God. 
This  is,  as  you  say,  '  a  busy  world.'  I 
often  think  of  the  injunction,  'Not  slothful 
in  business,  fervent  in  spirit,  serving  the 
Lord.'  These  must  all  be  combined,  or 
we  discharge  but  part  of  our  duty." 


"  November  IQth. 
"  My  ever  dear  Mary, 

"  If  my  thoughts  never  followed  you 
any   oftener   than   I   write    a   letter,   you 


76  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

might  reasonably  strike  me  from  your  list 
of  friends.  But  this  is  not  the  case, — 
often  are  you  in  my  thoughts,  while  my 
hands  are  busily  employed  about  necessary 
duties. 

"  I  wish  you  could  hear  our  excellent 
minister.  I  think  you  would  be  very 
much  pleased  with  him.  His  name  does 
not  describe  his  character — for  humility 
seems  a  prominent  feature  in  it ;  and  you 
know  how  lovely  this  grace  is.  A  prayer- 
ful spirit  too,  seems  apparent  in  him. 
His  natural  disposition  is  amiable  and 
affectionate,  and  I  cannot  but  hope  he  is 
sent  here  to  gather  in  a  harvest  of  souls 
to  Ciirist.  "Tis  true  a  minister  may  do 
his  duty  faithfully,  and  yet  see  little  fruit 
of  his  labors,  if  his  chuicli  remain  asleep. 
And  0  !  dear  Mary,  I  cannot  tell  you  that 
our  church  is  awake. 

"  This    afternoon,    some   of  the    church 


MAEY     C.     GREENLEAP.  77 

meet  for  prayer  at  Mrs.   's.     May  a 

blessing  follow!  Ma'  is  gone, — but  it  seems 
needful  for  me  to  remain  at  home  ;  but  if 
I  feel  aright,  I  can  join  them  in  heart. 
"  The  singing  school  which  you  attend, 
must  be  very  pleasant  and  instructive. 
You  must  try  to  tutor  us  when  you  come 
home, — for  indeed  we  need  it  very  much. 
Never  have  I  missed  your  dear  father's 
delightful  voice  so  much  as  since  Mr. 
Boyd  left  us." 

"  April  1th,  1828.— I  fear  our  Sabbath 
school  will  be  attended  separately  this 
summer,  although  a  majority  of  the 
teachers  wish  it  to  be  united  with  the 
other  societies,  who  still  attend  at  the 
court  house.  I  am  decidedly  in  favor 
of  going  to  the  court  house,  because  I 
think  the  general  good  of  the  school  will 
be  promoted  thereby. 


78  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

"  The  Sabbath  school  has  been  a  great 
bond  of  union  between  the  churches  ;  and 
I  am  afraid  a  separation  will  promote 
that  narrow,  contracted,  party  feeling, 
which  has  prevailed  so  much  in  this  town. 
However,  I  wish  to  leave  the  matter  with 
God ;  and  wherever  we  meet,  if  we  go 
with  a  right  spirit,  God  grant  we  have 
a  blessing.  I  think  of  going  down  to  the 
South  school  this  summer,  as  well  as  to 
the  other,  if  that  school  should  be  con- 
tinued." 

"  June  15th. — I  conclude  you  did  not 
expect  to  see  me  in  Boston  last  Sabbath. 
I  could  not  see  the  path  of  duty  to  be 
there ;  and  several  circumstances  which 
occurred  that^week,  convinced  me  more 
fully  that  God  did  not  call  me  from  home. 
Ma'  still  talks  of  my  going,  after  her 
return, — but    I    think    it    very    doubtful 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  79 

whether  I  do ;  though  I  must  confess, 
I  do  earnestly  long  to  hear  Dr.  Beecher. 
But  I  could  not  expect  a  blessing  on  his 
preaching  if  I  should  go  out  of  the  sphere 
Providence  had  assigned  me,  merely  to 
gratify  myself. 

"  Your  visit,  dear  Mary,  was  so  short, 
that  I  liardly  seemed  to  have  any  time 
with  you.  Well,  this  is  a  world  of  change 
and  separation  ;  and  if  we  may  only  meet 
in  our  Father's  house  above,  it  will  be 
enough.  We  must  not  depend  on  any 
created  comfort.  It  is  God  who  must 
supply  our  souls. 

"  I  saw  last  week  a  young  lady  from 
Portsmouth,  who  spent  last  Sabbath  in 
Boston,  and  heard  Dr.  B.  preach  in  the 
morning.  She  had  a  copy  of  the  hymn 
which  was  sung,  and  she  read  some  notes 
of  his  sermon,  which  were  very  excellent. 
I   think  it  must  have  been  a  most  inter- 


80  LIFE     AND     LETTEKS 

esting  Sabbath,  and  I  acknowledge  that  I 
felt  a  momentary  regret  that  I  was  not 
there  to  enjoy  it, — but  it  was  hut  mo- 
mentary, so  satisfied  was  I  that  I  did  right 
in   staying  at  home." 

"  September  l^th. — We  have  at  last 
succeeded  in  establishing  a  weekly  meet- 
ing for  prayer  in  our  church  especially 
for  a  revival.  Mr.  Proudfit  wished  to 
have  such  a  meeting,  and  there  seems  to 
be  a  spirit  of  prayer  in  them,  and  I  cannot 
but  hope  a  revival  will  be  granted  us. 
Since  it  is  not  for  our  sake,  but  for  his 
own  name's  sake  that  God  builds  up  his 
church ;  I  trust  he  is  about  to  make  a 
display  of  the  sovereignty  and  freeness 
of  his  grace  even  here,  where  iniquity 
abounds  so  much.  I  have  felt  this  hope 
more  strongly  for  some  weeks  past ;  and 
though  I  have  heard  of  but  two  conver- 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAP.  81 

sions  since,  I  cannot  relinquish  it, — for 
why  should  a  spirit  of  prayer  for  this  object 
be  excited  in  any  breast,  if  God  does  not 
intend  to  answer  it  ?  Do  ask  some  of  the 
Boston  Christians  to  pray  for  us.  Mr. 
Proudfit  recently  requested  the  church  to 
pray  particularly  for  the  youn^.  Indeed, 
it  is  very  important  that  they  should  be 
brought  in. 

"  0 !  Mary,  what  a  fearful  doom  awaits 
all  who  in  this  gospel  land,  reject  the 
Saviour !  0,  did  they  feel  it,  they  could 
not  rest  a  moment  without  flying  to  Christ 
for  refuge  ;  and  did  we  realize  it,  we  could 
not  cease  entreating  them  not  to  destroy 
their  own  souls.  0,  when  shall  we  live 
as  becomes  souls  redeemed  ?  Let  us  earn- 
estly strive  for  more  likeness  to  our  Sav- 
iour." 

"  April  5th. — I  hope  I  shall  not   enjoy 


82  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 


your  visit  too  much  in  anticipation,  as  I 
am  very  prone  to  do.  Indeed,  our  joy 
in  every  thing  of  this  kind  should  be  chas- 
tened by  a  thousand  considerations.  *  * 
To-day,  we  have  had  the  most  interesting 
Sabbath  school  we  have  ever  known.  I 
think  it  likely,  however,  that  you  may 
have  enjoyed  the  same  delightful  spectacle 
in  your  Sabbath  school  on  a  previous  Sab- 
bath. I  refer  to  two  Indian  boys  whom 
Mrs.  Barnes  has  under  her  care.  It  was 
delightful  to  hear  them  sing,  recite  an- 
swers, read,  and  one  of  them  conclude 
with  a  prayer  in  his  native  tongue.  Their 
instructress  gave  some  account  of  the  state 
of  things  among  the  Indians,  which  was 
very  encouraging.  It  was  indeed,  reprov- 
ing to  us  to  see  the  improvement  one  had 
made  in  a  year,  the  other  in  a  year  and 
a  half.  I  cannot  but  hope  that  their  com- 
ing into  the  school  to-day,  will  serve  as  a 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  83 

stimulus  both  to  teachers  and  children, — 
for  our  school  has  been  so  very  uninter- 
esting of  late,  that  I  have  doubted  whether 
any  good  at  all  could  be  effected  by  it. 
But  1  will  hope  for  better  days  respecting 
it ;  and  if  I  can  only  be  excited  to  do 
my  duty,  it  will  be  one  step  towards  im- 
provement. 

"  I  have  commenced  attending  Mr.  Wil- 
bur's astronomical  lectures,  in  which  I 
am  highly  interested.  How  like  an  alom 
this  world  appears,  when  we  consider  the 
numerous  other  worlds  which  exist !  And 
yet  how  consoling  to  the  believer  in  Jesus, 
is  the  fact,  that  while  God  is  so  great  a 
Being,  he  still  notices  his  disciples  with 
peculiar  regard,  and  not  the  smallest 
insect  is  disregarded  by  him,  since  he 
created  them  all. 

"  The  first  evening,  after  having  seen 
several   diagrams,  that    line    of  the   poet 


84  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

came  with  peculiar  force  to  my  mind  : — 
'  The  skies    he   formed,  and  yet  he  bled   for   me.' 

"  How  infinite  the  condescension  of  our 
Redeemer  !  and  if  we  may  by  faith,  call 
him  ours,  can  we  ever  complain  at  the 
loss  of  any  created  good  ?  I  thought  I 
should  not  last  week, — and  yet  before 
many  days  were  past,  I  was  inwardly 
murmuring  at  trifles, — so  strangely  incon- 
sistent am  I !  " 

''March  7th,  1830.— Don't  forget  the 
Indians  at  this  interesting  period.  I  hope 
they  will  not  be  driven  from  their  lands." 

"  December  26th. — I  do  not  wonder  it 
seemed  strange  to  you  to  think  of  me  as 
engaged  in  a  school.  At  first  it  was 
strange   to   myself, — but   in    a  short  time 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  85 

I  found  its  duties,  though  extremely 
fatiguing,  familiar  and  pleasant.  I  became 
so  much  attached  to  the  dear  children, 
that  it  was  hard  to  part  with  them.  I 
entered  on  the  employment  under  many 
discouragements, — and  the  first  week  I 
thought  if  I  succeeded,  it  would  be  almost 
a  miracle.  But  God,  who  I  trust  called 
me  to  the  service,  encouraged  and  strength- 
ened me  beyond  my  expectations.  Though 
often  cast  down  with  a  sense  of  my  own 
deficiencies,  and  the  waywardness  of  my 
scholars,  I  did  not  despair ;  and  I  cannot 
but  hope  some  good  was  done,  even  by 
so  worthless  an  instrument.  I  found  less 
difficulty  with  the  parents  and  managers 
than  I  expected  ;*  and  when  I  closed  the 
school,  had  abundant  reason  to  sing  of 
the  mercy  of  God.  It  will  probably  Ije 
resumed  in  May. 


It  was  an  Infant  School. 


86  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

"  The  last  week  my  attention  has  been 
directed  particularly  to  the  wants  of  the 
American  Education  Society.  I  have,  with 
the  assistance  of  others,  collected  forty 
dollars,  to  constitute  Mr.  Proudfit  an 
honorary  member  for  life, — so  you  see  I 
have  not  laid  aside  my  old  business  of 
begging.  Indeed,  it  is  delightful  to  be 
employed  in  the  service  of  Christ ;  though 
but  as  '  a  hewer  of  wood,  or  drawer  of 
water,' — and  he  always  does  more  than  I 
expected,  when  I  undertake  any  thing  for 
him.  My  dear  M.,  do  you  not  find  that 
the  more  you  give  yourself  up  to  his 
service,  the  greater  is  your  enjoyment  ? 
And  if  we  were  not  so  reluctant  to  be 
wholly  his,  should  we  not  have  larger 
measures  of  that  peace  of  God,  which  was 
the    Saviour's    bequest    to    his  disciples  ? 

"  It  seems  a  very  long  time  since  I 
heard  from  S .     When  you  write  give 


MARY     C.      GREENLEAF.  87 

her  my  love,  and  assure  her  I  do  not 
forget  her.  Tell  her,  at  eight  o'clock 
Saturday  evenings,  I  think  particularly 
of  her,  and  hope  I  am  then  remembered 
in  her  prayers.  You,  dear  M.,  do  not 
forget  that  hour." 

In  April,  1831,  Miss  Greenleaf  visited 
the  Infant  schools  in  Boston,  to  gain 
information  respecting  the  best  method  of 
conducting  them.     In  July  she  writes : — 

"  I  must  not  keep  any  longer  from  the 
point  at  which  I  aim,  which  is  to  tell  you 
that  we  now  have  a  revival  of  religion 
in  the  midst  of  us.  We  have  long  hoped 
for  it, — we  may  now  safely  say  it  has 
commenced  with  power.  The  four  days' 
meetings  were  interesting  and  solemn  in 
the  highest  degree.  I  can  scarcely  con- 
ceive of  any  more  so.     An  unction  from 


88  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

the  Holy  One  seemed  to  have  descended 
on  every  one  of  the  ministers  who  were 
here,  (about  twenty  in  number),  and 
while  they  spake  to  the  outward  ear, 
God  spake  to  the  heart.  On  the  third 
evening,  all  who  ever  wished  to  have 
religion  were  invited  to  tarry,  after  the 
others  had  retired,  for  a  few  remarks, — 
when  about  half  the  congregation  re- 
mained. The  fourth  day  an  inquiry 
meeting  was  appointed  in  the  chapel, 
morning  and  afternoon,  before  public  ser- 
vice, where  from  two  to  three  hundred 
assembled.  Prayer-meetings  were  held 
every  day  between  the  ringing  of  the 
bells  ;  numerous  notes  were  sent  in,  re- 
questing prayers  for  unconverted  friends, 
which  were  very  striking.  One  of  them 
was  peculiarly  so.  It  was  this, — '  A  formal 
professor  requests  your  prayers  that  he 
may  be  brought  to  repentance  this  day.' 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  89 

Another, — '  A  husband  and  wife,  in  deep 
distress    of  mind,   request   your   prayers.' 
"  At  our  inquiry  meeting  Sabbath  eve- 
ning, there  were  about  a  hundred.     The 
meetings  are  crowded,  and  such  stillness 
and  solemnity  pervades  the  assembly  as  I 
never  saw   here  before.     Indeed,  I  never 
saw  such  a  time,  and  many  who  recollect 
the   revival   here   thirty   years    since,   say 
this   is   much   more   powerful   and  exten- 
sive.    I  heard  to-day  of  the  awakening  of 
one   man,   who    opposed    the    four    days' 
meeting,  and  would  not  attend.     Another 
merchant,   who   though   not  opposed,  felt 
too   indifferent   to   go,   was   impressed   by 
the  text  from  which  Mr.  Cheever  preached 
last  Sabbath,  '  Surely  the  Lord  is  in  this 
place,  and   I  knew   it   not.'     I  trust  this 
is  but  the  beginning  of  the  revival.     Your 
good  Dr.  Beecher  seemed  more  excellent 
than  ever.     How  can  any  one  doubt  that 


90  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

the  love  of  Christ  constrains  him  to  love 
immortal  souls !  I  could  not  but  hope 
the  ministers  who  labored  so  abundantly 
here,  would  be  rewarded  by  seeing  the 
work  of  the  Lord  prosper  more  remarkably 
among  their  own  people. 

"  I  have  had  a  hoarse  cold  for  several 
weeks ;  and  for  about  a  week  could  speak 
only  in  a  whisper,  and  could  not  sing  a 
note, — but  I  kept  my  school  though  very 
feeble.  The  managers  have  removed  all 
from  the  school  who  were  more  than  six 
years  old  ;  so  that  I  have  but  sixty-eight 
now, — have  had  about  ninety.  Pray  much 
that  I  may  have  grace  to  be  faithful  to 
these  young  immortals, 

"  I  do  not  forget  eight  o'clock  Saturday 
evenings.  I  wish  you  to  remember  par- 
ticularly at  tliat  time,  my  father.  '  Is 
any  thing  too  hard  for  the  Lord  ? '  Ma' 
sends    love.      Has  abundance    to  do ;    as 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  91 

inquirers    call    almost   every  hour  in    the 
day." 

"  November  \^th. — My  school  has  occu- 
pied a  large  portion  of  my  time,  and 
various  domestic  duties,  which  I  must 
perform,  hurry  me  all  the  time.  I  had, 
it  is  true,  one  half  day  given  me  from  my 
school,  and  had  many  engagements  planned 
for  that.  But  the  proposal  to  collect  thirty 
dollars  for  the  Massachusetts  Missionary 
Society  was  made  to  me  by  the  agent, — 
and  how  could  I  refuse  thus  to  aid  the 
cause  of  Christ  ?  Accordingly,  that  half 
day  and  another,  was  devoted  to  this 
object.  My  school  closed  twelve  days 
since.  The  week  after,  was  the  time  to 
make  the  annual  collection  for  the  Mis- 
sionary AssociatioUj—and  then,  again  I 
set  out  on  a  collecting  tour.  This,  with 
finishing  my  carpet,  and  much  house-work, 


92  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

attending  meetings,  <fec.,  has  so  occupied 
me,  that  I  have  frequently  felt  at  the 
close  of  the  day,  even  more  fatigued  than 
when  I  have  kept  school ;  so  you  will  see 
that  it  was  not  idleness  which  has  hindered 
me  from   writing. 

"  The  precious  revival  we  have  en- 
joyed here  still  progresses ;  though  it  is 
feared,  not  so  rapidly.  I  cannot  bear 
the  idea  of  a  decline.  Indeed,  I  think 
Christians  have  not  declined  in  their  spirit 
of  prayer,  and  cannot  but  believe  we  shall 
yet  see  greater  things  than  these.  At  the 
close  of  the  meeting  in  Belleville,  two 
or  three  hundred  remained  as   inquirers. 

"  I  could  not  part  with  my  infant  charge 
without  some  regret.  0  !  that  they  may 
all  belong  to  that  little  flock  to  whom  the 
Father  will  give  the  kingdom.  Only  to 
think  of  the  sufferings  of  the  dear  Mission- 
aries  among    the   Indians.     But   God  has 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  93 

supported  them  wonderfully.     How  abun- 
dant is  his   o-race  !  " 


'' Jnhj  20th,  1832.— During  the  winter 
and  spring,  my  father  was  sick  all  the 
time,  and  has  not  now  recovered  his 
health.  My  school  has  been  much  fuller 
than  usual.  I  have  had  but  one  assistant ; 
and  ma'  has  been  very  feeble,  so  that  I 
have  had  my  hands  filled  to  overflowing. 
I  could  only  speak  to  you  in  my  heart, 
and  remember  you  when  at  the  mercy- 
seat.  But  my  dear  friend,  as  you  inquire, 
I  would  not  have  my  lot  altered ;  nor 
would  I  wish  to  sit  down  in  ease,  and 
dream  away  life, — satisfied  as  I  am  that 
'  wisdom  and  mercy  guide  my  way  ;  '  and 
that  the  smallest  event  is  controlled  by 
these  glorious  attributes  of  God.  But  I 
must  lament,  that  though  my  time  is  so 
fully  occupied,  I  do  not  fulfill  my  duties 


94  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

with  that  spirit  of  holy  zeal  and  benevo- 
lence which  ought  to  actuate  me,  and 
have  hourly  need  of  a  fresh  application 
of  '  the  blood  of  sprinkling,'  to  pardon 
my  numberless  transgressions  and  short 
comings. 

"  I  agree  with  you  perfectly  in  the  sen- 
timent, that  if  Christians  were  always 
engaged,  there  would  be  a  continual  de- 
scent of  the  Holy  Spirit  around.  If  we 
keep  near  to  God,  he  will  not  forsake  us. 
We  go  from  him,  ere  he  departs  from  us. 

"  I  hope  you.  still  remember  Saturday 
evenings ;  and  though  the  answer  to  our 
particular  request  then  has  been  long  de- 
layed, I  trust  it  will  come  in  God's  good 
time  ;  for  I  cannot  think  with  some,  that 
believing  prayer  is  always  answered  imme- 
diately,— for  wise  reasons  the  answer  may 
be  long  delayed ;  but  we  shall  know  here- 
after  that  it  was  best   it  should  be   so." 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  95 

"  December  ?>lst,  1833. — Much  out  of 
door  business  devolves  upon  me  at  this 
season  of  the  year,  in  addition  to  vrhich  I 
have  been  so  crowded  with  sewing,  that  I 
have  been  obliged  to  labor  with  all  my 
might  to  fulfill  promises,  so  that  no  re- 
proach may  be  cast  on  the  religion  of 
Christ. 

"  I  left  my  school  about  the  middle  of 
October,  and  do  not  expect  to  resume  it 
again  ;  for  with  such  impaired  health  as 
I  possessed  last  summer,  I  could  not  think 
of  laboring  so  hard  again ;  and  besides,  I 
feel  it  my  duty  to  be  at  home  as  much  as 
possible,  to  render  ma's  declining  years 
more  easy  and  comfortable." 

That  Miss  Greenleaf  accomplished  so 
much,  was  due  in  part  to  her  simplicity  of 
plan  and  arrangement ;  to  her  quickness 
of  execution,  and  great  activity,  and  to 


96  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

her  just  appreciation  of  the  vahie  of  time 
and  opportunity.  With  her  there  were 
few  intervals  —  those  interstices  through 
which  so  many  precious  moments  shp 
away.  One  duty  was  so  fitted  and  con- 
joined to  the  succeeding,  tliat  the  outline 
of  her  day  formed  a  perfect  and  connected 
whole. 

Doubtless  the  motive  and  main-spring  of 
this  activity,  was  that  fervent,  entire  self- 
consecration  to  her  Redeemer,  which  was 
known  by  its  effects.  She  distinguished, 
perhaps  unconsciously,  in  temporal  matters 
between  the  needful  and  the  desirable. 
She  contented  herself  with  the  former. 
All  the  rest,  in  time  and  means  was 
given  to  the  outward  and  spiritual  wants 
of  her  neighbor,  to  Christ  and.  his 
cause. 

She  had  never  time  for  mere  amuse- 
ments,  for  personal   adornment,   for  calls 


MAEY     C.     GREENLEAF.  97 

and  visits  of  ceremony.  Tlie  only  pan- 
orama which  slie  ever  visited,  was  that 
of  Jerusalem,  which  was  exhibited  in 
Boston,  just  as  she  was  leaving  New 
England  for  the  mission  station  at  Wa- 
panucka.  She  very  rarely  attended  the 
Lyceum,  or  even  the  musical  concert, 
although  delighting  in  sacred  music,  and 
for  many  years  a  member  of  the  choir. 

Another  secret  of  her  usefulness  was 
self-negation.  She  had  not  that  sensitive- 
ness, that  consciousness*  of  being  seen, 
which  often  prevents  Christian  women 
from  acting  at  the  right  moment.  Ever 
humble,  modest  and  discreet,  yet  when  an 
emergency  came,  or  a  generous  impulse 
stirred  her,  instead  of  deliberating,  she 
acted. 

Her  thoughts  and  reasonings  were 
often  equally  prompt.  They  were  so  rapid 
as  to  seem  like  intuitions.     Her  reply  to 


98  LIFE     AND     LETTEKS 

a  dear  friend  who  had  been  in  a  long 
and  sad  state  of  despondency,  fearing 
that  she  was  not  a  Christian,  shows 
this.  Her  friend  doubted  whether  she 
had  any  warrant  to  approach  the  throne 
of  grace — whether  her  prayers  would 
not  be  accounted  sin.  Mary  quoted  to 
her  the  words  of  our  Lord  in  Matt.  7  :  7. 
"But,"  replied  she,  "these  words  of  invi- 
tation are  all  addressed  to  Christians," 
"  We  are  not  to  knock,"  was  the  in- 
stant rejoinder,  '♦  after  we  are  already  in 
the  kingdom,  are  we  ?"  This  simple 
reply,  uttered  in  her  forcible,  assured 
manner,  at  once  brought  light  and  hope, 
and  the  dark  shadow  passed  away. 
Ah,  how  often  would  as  natural  a  re- 
ply, as  slight  an  effort  or  the  part  of 
a  Christian,  heal  a  long  wounded  heart, 
or  pierce  a  stony  one,  were  we  on  the 
watch  for  the  fitting  time  and  opportunity. 


MART     C.     GREENLEAF.  99 

But  often  when  the  right  moment  comes, 
our  own  hearts  are  so  cold,  that  we  shrink 
from  the  attempt,  and  the  moment,  the 
opportunity  flies.  It  is  hard  to  realize, 
that  even  in  heaven  some  of  us  will  not 
weep, — when  separated  by  a  whole  eternity 
of  bliss,  from  those  once  near  and  dear, 
whom  we  never  lifted  a  finger  to  save." 


100  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 


CHAPTER    III 


'  Musing  of  all  my  Father's  love, 

(How  sweet  it  is !  ) 
Methought  I  heard  a  gentle  voice — 

'  Child,  here's  a  cup,— 

I've  mixed  it, — drink  it  up.'  " 
'  My  lieart  did  sink, — I  could  no  more  rejoice." 


'  '  O  Father,  must  it  be?' 
'  Yes,  child,  it  must;  ' 
'  Then  give  the  needed  medicine, 
Be  by  my  side, 
Only  thy  face  don't  hide  : 
I'll  drink  it  all,— it  must  be  good,— 'tis  Thine.'" 

English  Tract. 


In  1833  the  health  of  her  father  con- 
tinued to  decline,  and  during  the  following 
Spring  he  was  visibly  sinking.  The 
morning  of  his  death,  while  her  hands 
were  busily  occupied  with  domestic  duties, 
she  found  the  tears  raining  over  her  face. 
She  was  in  anguish  of  spirit,  pleading  for 
the   soul   of  her  father.     He  had  break- 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  101 


fasted  as  usual,  and  she  had  assisted  him 
to  his  room,  and  left  him  to  repose. 
When  she  returned  at  the  close  of  fifteen 
minutes,  he  was  dead !  It  was  a  severe 
shock.  Her  pale,  agitated  look  as  she 
entered  the  gateway  leading  to  the  resi- 
dence of  her  uncle,  Dr.  Dana,  next  door, 
told  at  once  the  tale  of  distress.  He 
returned  with  her.  In  such  an  hour,  the 
Toice  of  prayer  brings  the  only  conso- 
lation. 

Those  who  knew  Miss  Greenleaf  inti- 
mately, felt  that  she  loved  her  father 
tenderly.  "  The  silence  of  a  life-time  more 
eloquent  than  "  speech,  was  one  token  of 
this  love.  The  deep,  abiding  grief  which 
succeeded  his  death,  is  best  explained  by 
reference  to  her  own  record  of  the  sad 
event,  dated  April,  1852. 


Alas  !    my   father's   dying  day,   June 

8 


102  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

9th,  1834.  What  a  day  was  that  to  me  ! 
*  *  *  *  I  almost  wonder  that 
I  did  not  lose  my  reason ;  but  the  Almighty 
arm  sustained  me,  and  I  did  not  sink, 
although  my  grief  was  inexpressible  ;  and 
I  fear  my  heart  was  rebellious,  because 
he  left  no  evidence  of  a  change  of  heart, 
though  he  was  softened  and  subdued  and 
convicted.  How  different  the  faith  of  my 
dear  mother.  The  idol  of  her  heart  *  * 
lay  dead, — but  she  had  faith  in  God,  that 
the  prayers  offered  by  herself,  and  numer- 
ous Christian  friends,  were  answered,  and 
that  he  was  saved  at  the  eleventh  hour. 
How  calm  was  she  !  And  I  had  to  restrain 
my  grief,  and  attend  to  the  many  things 
to  be  done,  previous  to  his  interment. 
The  next  day,  after  a  sleepless  night,  my 
dear  mother  was  so  overcome  by  numerous 
visitors,  that  she  was  obliged  to  retire  to 
her    bed,   while   the    funeral    solemnities 


MART     C.     GREENLEAF.  103 

were  performed.  My  brother  "Was  nearly 
one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  oflF, — -and  I 
was  the  only  mourner  that  followed  his 
remains,  although  a  respectable  procession 
was  formed.  But  0  !  the  want  of  sympa- 
thy evinced  !  How  chilling  to  my  bleeding 
heart  \  *  *  *  My  dear  mother  and  I, 
finding  no  one  entered  into  our  feelings, 
concluded  to  sympathise  with  each  other, — 
and  not  to  seek  sympathy  from  friends. 
Even  she  could  not  know  the  bitterness  of 
my  sorrow ;  for  she  hoped  he  was  saved.  I 
was  mourning  for  his  lost  soul.  In  two 
years  I  thought  it  best  to  remove  the 
outward  badges  of  mourning, — but  for 
three  years  I  continued  at  times,  to  water 
my  couch  with  tears  on  his  account.  At 
the  end  of  that  period  I  was  enabled  to 
leave  him  entirely  with  God ;  and  in 
about  eight  years,  I  felt  rebuked  for  my 
unbelief  and  ingratitude.     And  though  I 


104  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

have  not  written  this  record  without  many 
tears,  I  trust  they  are  only  tears  of  filial 
affection,  not  of  rebellion.  '  Shall  not  the 
Judge  of  all  the  earth  do  right  ? '  and 
shall  I  not  rejoice  that  He  reigns,  and 
will  do  all  things  well  ?  " 

It  would  seem  from  this  statement,  that 
her  friends  were  almost  unfeeling ;  but 
when  we  consider  the  strength  and  depth 
of  her  filial  tenderness,  which  demanded  a 
corresponding  depth  of  sympathy,  it  is 
not  surprising  that  under  the  circum- 
stances, they  could  not,  in  outward  ex- 
pression, satisfy  the  yearnings  of  her  heart. 
One  of  the  disadvantages  of  our  present 
imperfect  state,  is  the  constant  liability 
to  misunderstand,  and  be  misunderstood. 
The  following  extract  from  a  letter  written 
at  the  time,  somewhat  modifies  the  view 
she   has   given    above,   both   of   her   own 


MART     C.     GREENLEAF.  105 

unbelief,  and   their  short  comings.     It  is 
addressed  to  Miss  Mary  S.     She  says  : — 

"  As  it  regards  the  state  of  Pa's  mind, 
he  was  surprisingly  softened  on  religious 
subjects.  He  studied  the  Bible  daily,  and 
attentively  ;  received  the  advice  of  numer- 
ous Christian  friends,  with  kindness,  prayed 
for  himself,  and  asked  Uncle  Dana,  when 
he  visited  him,  to  pray  with  him.  I  had 
several  conversations  with  him  on  the 
necessity  of  preparation  for  death,  which 
he  received  with  deep  emotion,  as  his  tears 
evinced.  He  acknowledged  the  import- 
ance of  preparation  for  death,  complained 
of  his  stupidity,  and  I  verily  thought  the 
Spirit  of  God  had  begun  a  good  work  in 
his  soul ;  but  whether  he  was  truly  con- 
verted, I  cannot  say  ; — and  this  uncertainty 
was  that  bitter  ingredient  in  this  cup  of 
affliction,  which   has  pierced  me  through 


106  LIFE     AND     LETTEBS 

and  through  with  many  sorrows.  Not  that 
I  do  not  feel  willing  to  leave  him  in  the 
hands  of  God,  for  I  trust  I  do  ;  and  would 
by  no  means  alter  what  God  has  done. 
My  heart,  I  think  I  can  truly  say,  lies 
quietly  in  the  hands  of  God,  though  it 
bleeds  at  every  pore.  For  the  last  two 
weeks  of  his  life,  I  can  never  describe  the 
anguish  I  endured  for  the  salvation  of  his 
soul.  I  thought  I  could  fully  understand 
what  is  meant  by  '  travailing  in  birth  '  for 
the  soul.  For  a  few  hours  before  his 
decease,  I  suffered  more  intensely  than 
ever, — and  was  praying  almost  incessantly 
for  him ;  although  I  supposed,  I  should 
have  many  more  days  to  spend  in  the  same 
manner.  Our  Christian  friends,  during 
the  revival,  had  a  great  spirit  of  prayer 
for  him.  Whether  God  saw  best  to  answer 
these  prayers,  and  conceal  it  from  us,  we 
cannot  tell, — and  I  desire  to  bow  submis- 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAP.         107 

sively  to  his  holy  will  ;  assured  that  he 
saw  it  needful  thus  deeply  to  afflict  us  ; 
'  not  for  his  pleasure,  but  for  our  profit, 
that  we  may  be  partakers  of  his  holiness.' 
It  is  my  earnest  desire  that  we  may  rightly 
improve  this  dispensation  of  Providence  ; 
nor  do  I  ever  wish  to  feel  less  the  value 
of  the  soul,  and  the  emptiness  of  earth, 
than  I  now  do.  I  feel  that  I  have  had 
very  inadequate  conceptions  of  the  soul's 
infinite  value  ;  although  I  have  thought  I 
realized  it  in  some  degree.  But  when  I 
stood  on  the  verge  of  eternity,  with  so 
near  a  friend  about  to  launch  into  it,  and 
tlie  whole  business  of  life  crowded  into 
so  short  a  space,  then  I  felt  it  as  I  never 
did  before, — and  I  resolved  I  would  tell 
every  one,  who  had  an  impenitent  friend, 
tp  besiege  the  throne  of  grace  night  and 
day,  that  such  might  be  saved  before  the 
last   hour.     But   '  the   heart '    you   know. 


108  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

'  is  deceitful  above  all  things' — and  I  only 
fear  that  I  shall  relapse  into  the  same 
lukewarm  state  in  which  I  have  lived. 
Help  me,  my  dear  Mary  by  your  prayers, 
to  avoid  such  a  sad  decline  ;  for  if  I  am 
unaided  by  Divine  grace,  I  feel  that  this 
would  be  the  inevitable  result.  You  know, 
as  you  say,  by  experience,  how  to  feel  for 
me  in  this  affliction.  When  your  beloved 
parents  died,  I  thought  I  sympathized  witli 
you ;  but  never  till  the  hand  of  God 
touched  me,  did  I  know  how  to  do  so. 
But  I  have  dwelt  so  long  on  this  painful 
theme,  I  fear  I  liave  wearied  you.  You 
know  how  natural  it  is  to  dwell  on  our 
sorrows.  But  I  hope  I  shall  not  forget 
the  cause  of  Christ,  and  the  welfare  of 
others.  The  delightful  shower  of  Divine 
influencg,  with  which  we  have  been  re- 
freshed the  past  season,  has  passed  over, 
but  the  good  effects  remain." 


MARY     C.     GEEENLEAP.         109 

In  this  time  of  overwhelming  grief,  the 
life  of  her  mother,  now  seventy  years  of 
age,  was  seriously  threatened.  But  God, 
who  "  stayeth  his  rough  wind,  in  the  day 
of  the  east  wind,"  mercifully  spared  her 
yet  seventeen  years.  Differing  in  age  and 
relative  position,  differing  in  many  natural 
characteristics,  yet  in  hopes,  and  heart  and 
interest  they  were  one.  Mary  took  a 
daughter's  place  so  humbly,  was  so  plastic 
under  her  mother's  forming  hand,  entered 
into  all  her  plans  and  views  so  heartily, 
that  it  would  be  difficult  were  it  desirable, 
to  sever  in  the  narration,  these  two  lives 
so  closely  interwoven. 

In  the  autumn  of  1836,  they  visited 
together  the  son  and  brother,  then  settled 
at  Andover,  Maine,  enjoying  upon  the 
way,  a  delightful  communion  Sabbath  in 
Portland,  at  the  church  of  Dr.  Yaill, 
formerly  under   the  pastoral   care  of  Dr. 


110  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

Pay  son.  We  must  give  the  reader  a  part 
of  the  letter  which  describes  this,  then  for- 
midable, journey;  albeit  Miss  Greenleat's 
simple  faith  in  the  efficacy  of  the  prayers 
of  a  few  feeble  women  may  provoke  some 
smiles. 


"  November  Sd,  1836. 
"  My  dear  Mary, 

"  Could  I  use  my  pen  and  needle 
at  the  same  time,  you  would  have  had  a 
letter  from  me  long  ere  this. 

"  We  reached  Portland  on  Saturday, 
and  were  cordially  received  by  our  friends, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cross,  and  their  children, 
and  remained  with  them  till  Tuesday.  On 
Monday  morning  mother  and  I  called  on 
a  few  old  friends  ;  afternoon  attended  the 
female  Missionary  Society, — evening  the 
monthly  concert.     Wednesday  morning  we 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAP,  111 

got  into  the  Andover  stage,  (alias  a  milk- 
cart),  and  over  hill  and  dale,  with  one 
passenger  beside  us,  who  scarcely  spoke 
a  word,  we  reached  the  tavern  in  Andover. 
My  brother  drove  up  just  as  we  stopped. 
We  rode  to  his  little  cottage,  and  found 
a  minister  and  his  wife,  from  the  next 
town,  and  some  friends  passing  the  after- 
noon. We  could  hardly  realize  that  we 
were  safely  there.  We  passed  two  weeks 
with  them,  in  which  time  I  went  with  my 
brother  to  an  ordination  at  Dixfield,  twen- 
ty-two miles  from  Andover,  and  rode  round 
a  good  deal.  We  found  religion  very  low 
there, — the  crops  had  been  destroyed  by 
early  frost.  My  brother's  salary  was  inad- 
equate to  his  support ;  so  that  he  was 
almost  ready  to  leave,  but  ma'  per- 
suaded the  females  to  meet  for  prayer ; 
and  before  we  left,  there  seemed  to  be 
some  tokens  for  good.     Since  our  return, 


112  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

some  of  the  impenitent  have  been  awak- 
ened, and  the  state  of  the  church  is  more 
encouraging.  We  reached  our  own  '  sweet 
home,'  just  twenty-six  days  from  the  time 
we  left.  We  had  most  abundant  cause 
of  gratitude  to  our  heavenly  Father  for 
his  constant  care  of  us.  Nothing  un- 
pleasant occurred  to  mar  our  enjoyment. 
Ma's  health  was  comfortable,  friends 
kind,  and  we  could  only  say,  that  good- 
ness and  mercy  followed  us  all  the  way. 
My  own  health  and  spirits  are  excellent. 
I  hope  ma'  will  be  better  all  winter 
for  this  delightful  excursion. 

"  There  was  one  remark  in  your  last 
letter  to  me,  some  months  since,  to  which 
I  have  wished  to  refer,  to  correct  the  very 
erroneous  opinion  you  have  formed  of  me. 
It  was  such  a  mistake,  that  I  instantly 
erased  it  with  my  pen.  It  was  comparing 
me   to   that  devoted   saint,  Harlan  Page. 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF. 


113 


Ah,  my  dear  friend,  did  you  know  how 
unfaithfully  I  serve  the  best  of  masters, 
you  would  feel  that  I  was  not  worthy  to 
'  unloose  the  shoe-latchet '  of  Harlan  Page. 
So  do  not  say  or  think  so  of  me  again  ; 
for   it  is   a   great  mistake.     Sometimes  I 
think  I  should  like  to  be  such  a  Christian  ; 
but  if  so,  why  am  I  not  ?    Is  not  the  same 
Fountain   open   from  which  I  may  draw 
supplies  ?    Is  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  strait- 
ened ?    No,— but  I  draw  back,— I  content 
myself  with  a  few  feeble  efforts  and  cold 
prayers.     But  I  lear  I  shall  chill  you  if 
I  go  on  at  this  rate. 

"  You  have  heard   of    the   melancholy 

death   of  captain   S L ,   and  his 

cousin  A.  I  hope  it  will  be  sanctified  to 
our  church.  Mr.  Stearns  says,  we  must 
have  a  revival,  and  while  he  wishes  us  to 
feel  our  absolute  dependence  on  the  Holy 
Spirit  for  it,  he  also  enforces  the  duty  of 


114  LIFE     AND     LETTEKS 

the  church  to  labor  and  pray  for  it.  The 
church  seem  a  little  more  engaged, — 
though  far  from  that  spirit  which  we  ought 
to  possess.  Two  little  girls  in  our  Sabbath 
school  hope  they  have  recently  been  con- 
verted." 

In  March,  1837,  she  writes  : — 

"  There  is  no  breathing  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  perceptible  on  our  school  now  ;  nor 
have  Mr.  Stearns'  wishes  with  regard  to 
a  revival  been  realized  as  yet.  A  few 
secret  inquirers  ask  the  way  of  life, — but 
the  multitude  sleep  on.  In  other  places, 
however,  it  is  good  to  hear  of  revivals. 

"  Have  you  read  the  letters  from  Mr. 
Champion,  which  have  appeared  in  the 
two  last  Recorders  ?  I  long  to  send  out 
some  frocks  and  aprons  for  those  Zulu 
children ;    and  were   there    not  three   or 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  115 

four  societies  who  are  just  now  trying  to 
scrape  up  all  the  loose  coins  for  their 
various  objects,  I  think  I  should  try  to  do 
something  in  this  way  immediately.  I  am 
to  set  out  this  week  to  collect  the  money 
for  the  Missionary  Association  ;  and  as 
the  times  here  are  very  pressing,  fear  I 
shall  not  get  much." 

Thanksgiving  afternoon,  she  gives  some 
reasons  for  the  infrequency  of  her  letters. 

"  Two  boarders  for  six  months,  and 
their  friends  from  out  of  town  to  enter- 
tain, together  with  our  own,  and  every 
item  of  house-work  to  perform  myself, 
together  with  needle-work,  renders  me 
always  busy,  and  often  excessively  hur- 
ried. 

"  0  !  if  we  could  always  trust  in  Him, 
and  not  be   afraid,   we   should   never   be 


115  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

disappointed.  '  He  abideth  faitliful,  he 
cannot   deny   himself.' 

"  I  have  never  felt  at  liberty  to  speak 
of  your  sister's  noble  donation  to  the  Tract 
Society  till  now.  But  finding  that  it  is 
no  longer  a  secret,  I  am  glad  to  say  to 
you  how  much  I  was  rejoiced  at  the  liberal 
spirit  she  possessed.  If  all  Christians  would 
venture  out  with  so  much  faith,  and 
devise  and  execute  such  liberal  things, 
how  soon  would  the  Treasury  of  the  Lord 
be  filled ;  and  how  many  souls  now  per- 
ishing, might  be  rescued  from  eternal  woe  ! 
I  never  read  of  the  success  of  the  volume 

enterprise,    without   thinking    of    S 's 

donation.  She  will  never  suffer  for  the 
want  of  that  sum.  God  will  supply 
all  her  need ;  and  I  have  no  doubt  will 
abundantly  reward  her  for  her  labor  of 
love." 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.         117 

The  next  marked  change  in  Miss  Green- 
leaf's  hitherto  un-eventful  life,  occurred  in 
1839,  when  they  removed  to  a  part  of  the 
mansion  built  many  years  previously  by 
her  grandfather,  captain  Coombs.  At  the 
time  of  its  erection,  the  location  was 
deemed  a  highly  desirable  one.  The 
West  India  trade  was  flourishing ;  ships 
of  light  burden  lined  the  wharves  opposite  ; 
and  all  was  life  and  animation  within 
and  around  it.  Mrs.  Greenleaf,  now  in 
age  and  feebleness  returning,  had  been 
as  eldest  daughter,  the  bestower  of  alms, 
the  giver  of  household  comforts  to  the 
poor.  Now,  all  was  reversed.  The  house 
had  become  old.  The  ample  and  beautiful 
garden,  the  pride  and  delight  of  her  father, 
had  gone  to  decay.     Sadder  than  all, 

"  They  who  with  smiles   lit  up  one   hall, 
And  cheered  with   songs   one  hearth," 

9 


118  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

they  too  had  gone.  The  thought  of  re- 
turning there  could  not  but  be  painful 
to  Mrs.  Greenleaf ;  and  it  was  so.  Long 
before,  her  daughter  with  her  usual  prac- 
tical good  sense,  perceived  that  it  was 
very  desirable  to  make  the  change,  but 
remarked  that  she  found  it  so  trying  a 
subject  to  her  mother,  she  had  resolved 
to  say  nothing  further  about  it.  Now, 
however,  her  mother  saw  tlie  necessity 
and  acquiesced.  Her  house  and  the  neigh- 
borhood were  parted  with  forever.  Mary 
never  spoke  of  the  trial  to  herself,  so  intent 
was  she  upon  softening  it  to  her  mother. 
Mrs.  Greenleaf,  a  part  of  whose  nature  it 
was  to  find  the  bright  side  of  an  object  or 
character,  very  soon  expressed  deep  grati- 
tude to  God,  that  she  had  not  once  ex- 
perienced the  anticipated  gloom.  She 
remarked  to  her  friends,  "  There  hangs 
the  portrait   of  my  dear  sister  Mrs.  D., 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  119 

and  I  think  of  those  that  are  gone.  I 
have  many  pleasant  hours  in  recalling 
past  scenes  and  occurrences."*  To  cheer 
her  still  more,  new  doors  of  usefulness 
opened  around  her.  Mary  had  found 
her  way  to  the  chamber  of  poverty  and 
sickness,  and  had  been  kindly  received, 
and  her  assistance  gratefully  accepted. 
She  was  one  day  found  by  a  friend  at  a 
house  occupied  by  an  Irish  family,  where 
a  little  girl  had  broken  her  arm.  Miss 
G-reenleaf  was  supporting  the  child,  while 
the  doctor  set  the  bone. 

Some  pious  women  living  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, instinctively  gathered  around  the 
new  comers.  One  of  these  was  accustomed 
to  resort  to  Miss  Greenleaf,  both  to  plan 
and  to  execute  those  little  missions  in  the 
circle  of  her  acquaintance  which  their 
spiritual  wants   demanded.      Thus,   when 


Appendix,  Note  B. 


120  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

a  young  mother,  from  care  of  her  infant 
had  acquired  the  habit  of  staying  away 
from  church,  Mrs.  A.  sought  counsel  of 
her  neighbor.  Her  own  words  designate 
Miss  G-reenleaf's  mode  of  proceeding. 
"  When  I  had  mentioned  my  object,  she 
would  say,  '  Let  us  have  a  little  season 
of  prayer  first.'  After  that  we  would 
consult  together.  She  had,  you  know, 
such  a  kind,  loving  spirit,  that  she  could 
often  influence  where  another  could  not. 
And  then  she  was  always  so  ready  to  go. 
Sometimes  I  feared  that  she  would  not 
be  well  treated ;  but  she  would  reply, 
'Oh,   never   liaind   that.'" 

The  right  book,  or  some  suitable  tracts 
were  often  in  her  hand,  an  entering  wedge 
to  facilitate  these  labors  of  reclaiming  love. 
There  was  a  young  seafaring  man  in  that 
part  of  the  town,  slowly  sinking  in  con- 
sumption, who  had  imbibed  skeptical  no- 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.         121 

tions.  Miss  Greenleaf  procures  for  him 
Dr.  Spencer's  Pastor's  Sketches,*  thinking 
that  the  perusal  of  "  The  Young  Irish- 
man," would,  perhaps,  convince  him  of 
his   error. 

Her  heavenly  Father  did  not  allow  her 
to  go  on  thus  earnestly  seeking  the  souls 
for  whom  the  Saviour  died,  without  giving 
her  some  encouraging  tokens  of  success. 
There  was  a  poor,  thoughtless  woman 
whom  she  had  made  an  individual  subject 
of  prayer  and  effort.  At  length,  this 
woman's  brother  came  to  her  and  begged 
her  to  go  and  see  his  sister,  who  was  then 
ill,  adding :  "  I  really  believe  that  she  is 
an  anxious  sinner."  She  went,  she  sat 
by  her  sick-bed  day  by  day.  She  talked 
and  prayed  with  her,  and  read  to  her. 
Some  months  afterward,  the  woman  ex- 
pired, to  all  appearance  a  penitent  believer. 

*  Appendix,  Note  C. 


122  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

It  is  sometimes  the  case  that  we  attain 
middle  life,  ere  we  are  aware  of  our  con- 
stant proximity  to  death.  In  earlier  years, 
when  he  comes  into  our  circle  of  loved 
ones,  it  is  a  terrible  surprise.  We  shed 
tears  of  passionate  grief, — and  we  forget. 
Life  is  warm  and  fresh  within  and  around 
us ;  new  hopes,  new  joys  loom  up.  The 
past  vanishes.  A  little  farther  on,  and 
we  slowly  awake  to  the  fact,  that  death 
is  ever  crossing  our  pathway.  We  look 
along  the  rank,  which  in  the  order  of 
nature  comes  between  him  and  us.  It 
has  already  thinned.  We  feel,  for  the 
first  time,  perhaps,  that  our  turn  must 
come, — we  shall  not  always  escape.  Thus, 
in  the  succeeding  years  of  Miss  Greenleafs 
life,  she  was  called  to  a  more  frequent 
attendance  upon  the  sick  and  dying-bed  of 
friends  than  formerly  ;  and  once  in  1848, 
was  herself  prostrated  for  weeks  with  fever. 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  123 

There  was  a  cousin  of  her's  living  in 
Boston,  whose  parents  resided  in  London, 
England.  Thus  separated  from  them, 
and  becoming  hopelessly  ill,  it  was  pro- 
posed that  he  should  be  received  into 
Mrs.  Greenleaf's  family.  In  1841  he  came, 
and  from  that  time  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  more  than  a  year  afterward, 
Mary  was  all  to  him,  that  the  tenderest 
sister  could  have  been.  She  was  ever 
anxious  that  he  should  be  amused, — that 
his  time  should  not  hang  heavily  upon  his 
hands.  In  her  care  that  religion  should 
not  be  made  odious  or  distasteful  to  him, 
she  denied  herself  in  part,  that  free 
Christian  intercourse  which  had  so  long 
made  her  parlor  an  Emmaus.  Her  un- 
wearied assiduity  in  seeking  his  temporal, 
and  of  course,  his  spiritual  good,  can 
never  be  forgotten.  Well  is  it  that  a 
Christian  family  shared  at  this  time,  the 


124  LIFE      AND     LETTERS 

same  roof-tree,  that  some  of  the  details 
of  this  portion  of  her  hfe  may  be  known 
to  her  friends  ;  since  she  was  silent  as 
the  grave  with  regard  to  her  deeds  of 
charity.  Her  ever  watchful  care  to  tempt, 
or  suit  the  capricious  appetite  of  the 
invalid,  her  indomitable  sweetness  and 
cheerfulness  of  temper,  her  readiness  at 
each  moment  to  leave  every  other  occupa- 
tion in  obedience  to  his  wish,  or  that  of 
the  other  dear  invalid,  these  little  things 
exhibit  her  in  her  true  character, — loving, 
self-sacrificing,  self-forgetful. 

The  sight  of  Mrs.  Greenleaf  had  been 
long  failing,  and  several  hours  each  day 
were  devoted  to  reading  and  writing  for 
her.  Yet  at  this  time,  with  her  cousin 
so  ill  that  he  could  not  be  left  alone,  the 
amount  of  needle,  and  other  hand  work 
accomplished  by  Miss  Greenleaf,  was  sur- 
pi'ibing. 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  125 


After  his  decease,  warm  testimonials 
of  gratitude  to  Mrs.  and  Miss  Greenleaf, 
from  liis  relatives  across  the  Atlantic, 
evinced  their  high  appreciation  of  the  man- 
ner in  which  these  offices  of  care  and 
kindness   had   been   fulfilled. 

Under  date  of  February  15th,  1842,  she 
writes   to   a   dear   friend  : — 

"  You  inquire  how  I  feel.  I  cannot 
say  that  I  feel  as  I  ought,  or  as  I  hope 
to  ;  but  to  the  praise  of  Divine  grace,  I 
would  say,  I  think  I  have  been  drawn 
nearer  to  God  of  late,  and  have  known 
something  of  the  sweetness  of  communion 
with  him.  I  have  received,  as  I  firmly 
believe,  a  remarkable  answer  to  prayer, 
in  the  case  of  my  poor  cousin,  who  has 
long  been  with  us,  and  who  left  this 
world  the  20th  of  last  month.  I  know 
we  cannot   speak  with  any  confidence   of 


126  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

a  death-bed  repentance,  because  we  want 
the  evidence  of  the  life  to  prove  it  sincere ; 
yet  to  my  own  mind,  God  gave  enough 
to  satisfy  me,  exceeding  my  desires  and 
expectations.  When  he  came  to  this  house, 
nearly  sixteen  months  before  his  decease, 
it  pleased  God  to  awaken  in  my  breast 
such  compassion  for  him,  (though  no 
favorite  of  mine  before),  and  such  an 
earnest  desire  for  the  salvation  of  his  soul, 
that  it  seemed  to  me  I  could  do,  or  suffer 
any  thing  for  him,  if  the  Lord  would  but 
save  his  soul.  Though  for  months  there 
seemed  nothing  encouraging  in  his  case, 
but  every  thing  the  reverse,  cold  indiffer- 
ence and  even  violent  opposition,  with  a 
fixed  determination  to  banish  the  thought 
of  death  from  his  mind,  and  to  flatter 
himself  with  the  thought  of  living  many 
years,  yet  '  mine  eye  poured  out  tears 
to    God '    for   him,   and   I   was   at   times. 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  127 

almost  overwhelmed  with  agony  for  his 
soul ;  nor  did  any  light  appear  till  about 
five  or  six  weeks  before  his  death,  when 
he  began  to  pray,  which  he  had  always 
obstinately  refused  to  do  before.  Soon 
conviction  of  sin,  and  an  earnest  desire 
for  pardon  followed  ;  a  willingness  to  hear 
religious  conversation,  to  see  Mr.  Stearns 
and  other  ministers,  to  ask  their  prayers 
with  and  for  him ;  and  the  oft-repeated 
endeavor  to  give  himself  away  to  Christ. 
Though  it  was  not  till  the  day  of  his 
death  that  he  said  '  he  hoped  he  could 
trust  in  Christ,'  and  this  with  many  fears, 
yet  he  manifested  such  a  different  spirit, 
such  a  meek,  patient,  gentle,  grateful 
temper,  that  I  could  not  but  feel  that 
he  was  washed,  and  sanctified,  and  justi- 
fied, in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  and 
by  the  Spirit  of  our  God,  and  when  I 
looked  upon  his  sleeping  clay,  from  which 


128  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 


his  spirit  departed  in  the  gentlest  manner, 
and  beheld  the  pleasant,  placid  expression 
there  visible,  I  could  not  but  hope  he  had 
been  received  into  the  arms  of  Christ,  and 
as  '  a  sinner  saved  by  grace,'  would  sing 
a  loud  note  of  praise  to  his  Almighty 
Deliverer.  The  sufferings  of  his  body 
were  very  great,  but  no  murmurs  fell 
from  his  lips  ;  but  '  I  deserve  it  all,'  was 
a  frequent  expression.  The  last  day  I 
saw  you,  my  dear  Mary,  which  was  Thanks- 
giving, was  the  last  day  he  was  down 
stairs, — this  was  just  eight  weeks  before 
his  death.  For  three  weeks  he  was  con- 
fined to  his  bed,  and  was  reduced  almost 
to  the  weakness  of  infancy.  I  was  able 
to  take  the  whole  care  of  him,  and  of  the 
family,  till  the  last  four  days  of  his  life, 
when  I  had  assistance  by  day,  and  watchers 
by  night.  His  death  has  made  a  great 
void   in  our  family,  but   I  am   now  able 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.         129 


to  attend  meetings,  and  perform  some 
active  service  for  the  good  of  others.  0  ! 
pray  for  me,  my  dear  friend,  that  I  may 
faithfully  occupy  all  my  talents,  till  my 
Lord  shali  call  for  me.  I  am  much  inter- 
ested in  your  Sabbath  school  class,  and 
shall,  as  the  Lord  enables  me,  unite  with 
you  in  prayer  for  them,  and  shall  hope 
they  will  all  be  saved." 


What   a   commentary   is  this  upon   the 
words  of  the  poet: — 

"  Enclosed  doth  lie 
In   each   '  Come   Lord,'   an   '  Here   am  I.' 
Thy  love,   thy  longing,   are   not  thine, — 
Reflections   of  a  love   divine; 
Thy   very  prayer  to  thee   was   given, 
Itself  a  messenger  from  heaven." 

"  All   other  gifts   unto  his  foes, 
God  freely  gives,   nor  grudging   knows ; 


130  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

But  love's   sweet   smart  and   costly   pain, 
A   treasure   for  his  friends  remain." 


In  1843,  death  again  entered  the  house, 
and  the  onlj  remaining  loved  ^daughter 
of  captain  C,  (an  elder  in  the  First  Pres- 
byterian church,  who  occupied  the  other 
tenement)  was  summoned.  An  amiable 
young  lady,  just  on  tlie  verge  of  her 
eighteenth  birthday,  she  sank  in  rapid 
consumption.  Miss  Greenleaf  was  much, 
and  frequently  at  her  bed-side,  and  to 
her,  Mary  C*  who  was  naturally  diffident, 
learned  to  open  her  heart  more  freely  than 
to  any  one  else.  So  said  Mrs.  C.  She 
was  the  first  to  whom  Miss  C.  expressed 
a  hope  in  the  Saviour ;  she  died  in  sweet 
peace. 

The  following  letter  is  an  excellent 
exponent  of  the  character  of  Miss  Green- 


*  The  Bister  of  Bight  Eev.  Bishop  Clark,  of  Khode  Island. 


MARY     C.     GREEN  LEAF.  131 

leaf's  piety.     It  is  addressed  to  a  member 
of  her  Sabbath  school  class,  Miss  M.  P.  S. 

"  Saturday  evening,  Jan.  6th,  1849. 
"  My  dear  Mary, 

"  Accept  my  sincere  thanks  for 
your  very  kind  note  ;  and  for  the  good 
wishes  contained  in  it.  Indeed,  I  do  not 
feel  that  I  deserve  your  thanks  for  any 
thing  I  have  done  for  you.  I  always  feel 
ashamed  of  myself,  when  you  speak  as  if  I 
had  been  of  any  service  to  you  in  any 
way.  If  I  have  been,  give  God  the  praise, 
for  I  am  a  very  weak,  erring,  and  luke- 
warm instrument  in  his  hands  ;  and  often 
wonder  that  He  bears  with  me,  and  con- 
tinues to  shower  down  such  an  abundance 
of  blessings  upon  me.  Your  kind  interest 
and  sincere  prayers  for  me,  during  my 
late  illness,  affect  me  tenderly.  May  God 
reward  you  abundantly  for   them.     Your 


132  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

prayers  were  answered.  God  '  made  all 
my  bed  in  sickness,'  and  raised  me  up 
speedily.  As  he  answered  your  prayers 
for  me,  let  it  encourage  you  to  believe 
that  you  are  His,  and  that  amidst  all 
your  trials,  doubts  and  discouragements, 
He  is  still  a  kind  Father  to  you,  adapting 
his  chastisements  to  your  special  need,  as 
He  sees  wisest  and  best;  and  is  leading 
you  on  in  the  right  path,  till  finally  he 
will  bring  you  off  a  conqueror  over  every 
foe.  I  endeavor  to  pray  for  you  often, 
and  ask  that  you  may  be  submissive  under 
your  trials,  and  be  enabled  to  adorn  the 
doctrine  of  God  your  Saviour  in  all  things. 
Think  not  that  I  do  not  sympathize  with 
you  under  your  trials,  especially  that 
one  which  is  the  heaviest  of  all.  But, 
probably,  when  you  reach  heaven  you  will 
see  that  God  sent  it  upon  you  in  love,  and 
not   in   anger;  and,   indeed,  I  trust  you 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  133 

believe   this   now,  though   sometimes   you 
long  for  its  removal. 

"  I  do  not  like  to  speak  of  myself  very 
well,  but  thought  I  would  tell  you  a  little 
of  my  experience,  during  my  late  illness. 
When  I  found  that  I  was  indeed  sick, 
and  that  a  fever  would  probably  be  the 
result,  I  had  no  wish  to  have  it  otherwise  ; 
for  I  felt  that  I  had  had  an  uncommon 
degree  of  health,  and  now  it  was  right 
that  God  should  visit  me  with  sickness  ; 
but  I  had  a  will  respecting  the  person 
who  should  take  care  of  me.  Mrs.  E.  was 
at  our  house,  only  as  a  boarder,  and  her 
health  not  firm ;  and  for  several  days  I 
felt  unwilling  that  she  should  have  the 
labor  come  upon  her.  But  when  I  saw, 
that  in  the  Providence  of  God,  no  one 
else  could  be  procured,  I  was  enabled  to 
give  up  my  ivill,  and  submit  to  His, — and 
after  that,  if  I  am  not  deceived,  I  think 

10 


134  LIFE     AND     LETTEKS 

I  enjoyed  much  of  the  presence  of  my 
covenant  God  and  Saviour.  The  promises 
were  inexpressibly  sweet  to  me ;  one  in 
particular,  viz.  '  The  Eternal  God  is  thy 
refuge,  and  underneath  are  the  everlasting 
arms.'  Though  I  could  only  pray  by 
ejaculations,  I  think  I  had  much  commu- 
nion with  God ;  so  that  I  can  hardly  look 
back  upon  this  sickness  as  a  trial  to  me, 
(apart  from  the  trial  to  my  dear  mother, 
to  whom  it  was  a  great  one),  but  I  rather 
regard  it  as  a  season  during  which  I  had 
such  experience  of  the  kindness  of  my 
heavenly  Father  as  I  never  felt  before. 
0  !  pray  that  my  future  life  may  evince 
that  it  was  not  a  delusion  !  I  enjoyed 
much  Dr.  Watts'  Hymns,  and  those  of 
other  good  men.  Please  read  the  one 
hundredth  hymn,  second  book,  beginning, 

'  How  full   of  anguish,'   &c. 


MAEY     C.     GREENLEAP.  135 


It  was  a  great  comfort  to  me.  Another 
one  of  Doddridge's  was  very  precious.  I 
will  copy  and  enclose  it  for  you. 

"  And  now,  my  dear  M.,  I  reciprocate 
all  your  good  wishes  for  me.  May  you 
indeed  have  a  happy  New  Year, — whether 
in  joy,  or  sorrow,  in  life  or  death,  may 
you  be  enabled  to  say,  '  I  know  in  whom 
I  have  believed,  and  am  persuaded  that 
He  is  able  to  keep  that  which  I  have 
committed  to  Him,'  &c. 

"  As  ever  yours,  sincerely  and  afiFec- 
tionately,  M.  C.  G." 

During  the  winter  and  spring  of  1849-50, 
there  occurred  in  town  an  unusual  awak- 
ening to  the  subject  of  religion.  This 
was  attributed,  in  part,  to  the  instrument- 
ality of  an  itinerent  preacher  who  occupied 
several  of  the  pulpits,  particularly  the  one 
in  Federal  street,  then  vacant  of  a  settled 


136  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

minister.  The  doctrinal  views  he  pre- 
sented were  sound  and  Scriptural,  and 
eternal  realities  were  brought  before  the 
minds  of  his  hearers,  with  power  and 
effect.  Yet  many  doubted  his  thorough 
sincerity. 

To  the  motives  drawn  from  unseen 
verities,  the  mind  of  Miss  Greenleaf  was 
ever  awake.  They  now  enkindled  fresh 
ardor  in  her  soul.  She  felt  too  deeply, 
and  was  too  anxious  that  others  should 
receive  abiding  impressions  and  convic- 
tions to  reason  coolly  upon  the  manner  of 
the  preacher,  or  his  supposed  intrinsic 
deficiencies ;  and  in  two  instances  was 
unduly  severe  towards  those  who  differed 
from  her  with  regard  to  his  influence ; 
treating  their  objections  to  the  individual 
as  opposition  to  the  revival. 

We  are  thus  careful  not  to  conceal  Miss 
Greenleaf's  only  prominent  fault,  that  to 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  137 


which  she  herself  repeatedly  alludes,  be- 
cause Scripture  warrants,  and  the  Christian 
public  justly  demands  the  giving,  not  one 
phase  only  of  the  character,  but  the  whole 
character,  so  far  as  brought  out  by  cir- 
cumstances, and  the  friction  of  society. 
The  church  militant  is  bound  together  by 
common  affections,  common  wants,  com- 
mon infirmities  and  sins,  and  looks  for 
perfection  only  in  its  Leader.  Did  relig- 
ious biography  come  up  more  fully  to  the 
Bible  standard,  as  do  the  lives  of  Simeon 
and  Chalmers  in  good  measure,  it  would 
be  more  reliable,  more  instructive,  and 
doubtless  far  more  interesting. 

Finding  that  her  words  had  wounded 
one  of  these  friends,  a  member  of  her 
Sabbath  school  class,  she  addressed  to  her 
soon  after  the  following  note. 


138  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

"  Thursday  evening. 
"  My  dear  Alice, 

"  I  am  glad  to  find  you  have  got 
over  the  unpleasant  feelings,  excited  by 
my  "well-meant  reproof,  though  perhaps 
administered  with  too  much  severity. 
Could  I  have  taken  it  back,  with  a  clear 
conscience,  I  should  have  done  it ;  but  an 
apology  for  the  manner  was  all  I  could 
make  ;  and  I  was  willing  to  wait  till  you 
had  time  to  get  over  it, — though  T  felt 
it  possible  that  you  had  some  coldness 
towards  me  in  your  heart.  I  know  I  do 
wrong  so  often  myself,  that  I  ought  to  be 
very  tender  towards  others ;  but  I  have  a 
natural  bluntness  of  manner,  which  I  re- 
gret, as  I  think  I  often  give  offence  by 
it,  wlien  I  do  not  intend  it ;  and  I  am 
always  sorry  to  give  pain.  But  I  hope 
we  may  yet  love  each  other  as  well,  or 
better   than  before.     I  trust  my  dear  A. 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  139 

that  you  have  been  refreshed  during  this 
precious  revival, — and  are  praying  earn- 
estly for  its  continviance. 

"  I  fear  I  said  too  much  respecting  a 
certain  individual  this  evening.  We  must 
try  to  make  kind  allowances  for  her ; 
and  pray  that  she  may  be  led  in  the  right 
path. 

"  As  ever,  yours,  affectionately." 

Lest  it  should  be  deemed  that  her  efforts 
to  arouse  individuals  from  their  dangerous 
slumbers,  involved  no  self-denial,  we  sub- 
join an  extract  from  the  journal  of  her 
earlier  Christian   life. 

"  Through  the  day,  I  have  been  mucli 
exercised  respecting  writing  a  serious  letter 
to  a  neighbor.  I  felt  it  a  great  cross,  and 
vainly  tried  to  excuse  myself  from  it. 
But  this  evening:  the  consideration  of  the 


140  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

worth  of  the  soul,  the  uncertainty  of  life, 
&c.,  prevailed  on  me  by  the  Spirit's 
influences,  to  attempt  to  write.  I  now 
commit  it  into  thine  hand,  0  God.  Bless 
it,  if  it  please  thee,  and  thine  shall  be 
the  glory." 

Several  notes  she  jjenned  at  this  time, 
for  those  in  whose  welfare  she  felt  a 
special  interest.  The  one  given  below  is 
addressed  to  the  son  of  a  beloved  sister 
in  the  church. 

"Mr.  G , 


"  I  trust  you  will  excuse  me  for 
the  liberty  I  take,  in  addressing  you  in 
this  way.  I  have  long  felt  a  desire  that 
you  may  become  a  disciple  of  Christ ;  and 
since  this  interesting  revival  has  com- 
menced, I  have  anxiously  watched  for  the 
intelligence  that  the  son  of  my  friend  had 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.         141 

indeed  chosen  Christ  for  his  friend  and 
portion.  But  as  yet,  I  have  not  heard 
that  this  is  the  case.  Yet  I  have  been 
pleased  to  see  you  often  at  the  prayer-meet- 
ings, and  I  cannot  but  believe  that  the 
Holy  Spirit  is  now  striving  with  you,  and 
urging  you  to  consecrate  yourself  to  the 
service  of  Christ  710111^ — and  it  is  with  the 
desire  to  help  you  to  do  this,  that  I  have 
ventured  to  address  this  note  to  you. 
I  know,  by  sad  experience,  what  it  is  to 
halt  between  two  opinions  ;  convinced  of 
the  duty  of  coming  to  Christ,  and  yet 
delaying  to  take  this  important  step.  And 
I  trust,  I  have  known  by  siveet  experience, 
for  more  than  thirty  years,  how  blessed 
it  is  to  give  up  all  for  Christ, — to  take 
his  easy  yoke,  his  light  burden,  and  walk 
in  the  narrow  way  which  leadeth  unto 
life.  I  would  fain  urge  you,  my  young 
friend,  no   longer   to  delay,  but   to  come 


142  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

at  once^  and  give  your  heart  to  '  Him  who 
merits  all  your  love,' — who  died  to  redeem 
just  such  sinners  as  we  are,  and  who  ever 
lives  to  intercede  for  all  who  come  to 
God,  by  him.  Christ  has  long  been  knock- 
ing at  the  door  of  your  heart  for  admit- 
tance, by  his  Word,  his  providences,  by 
the  voice  of  conscience,  and  the  strivings 
of  the  Spirit ;  and  shall  the  heavenly 
stranger  still  be  denied  ?  Rather  will  you 
not  open  the  door  of  your  heart,  and  let 
him  come  in,  and  take  full  possession  ? 
'  He  stands  with  melting  heart  and  loaded 
hands,' — and  can  you  slight  his  offer  of 
pardon  and  eternal  life  ?  0 !  may  you 
be  inclined  to  enter  into  a  solemn  covenant 
with  him, — to  love  and  serve  him  forever ; 
renouncing  every  sin,  and  coming  out  fully 
on  the  Lord's  side.  Then  you  may  hope 
to  be  instrumental  in  persuading  others 
to   go   with   you   in  the   way  to   heaven ; 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  143 

and  do  you  not  wish  thus  to  honor  God  ? 
That  you  may,  very  soon,  know  by  sweet 
experience,  what  it  is  to  yield  to  the 
requirements  of  the  gospel,  is  the  earnest 
desire  and  prayer  of 

"  Your  friend,     M.  C.  Greenleaf. 
"  Water  street,  Dec.  27th,  1849." 

Mr.'G read  the  above  in  the  pres- 
ence of  his  mother,  and  perhaps  to  conceal 
a  deeper  emotion,  he  smiled  and  said, 
"  I  shall  answer  this  note."  He  took  an 
early  occasion,  to  call  at  Miss  Greenleaf 's 
door.  She  afterward  expressed  regret  to 
his  mother,  that  she  had  not  invited  him 
in,  as  she  observed  him  to  pause  for  a 
moment,  after  concluding  his  errand,  and 
she  thought  he  might  wish  to  converse 
with  her  upon  the  subject  of  religion. 
Her  suspicion  proved  correct.  He  had 
become  deeply  serious,  and  is  now  a  con- 


144  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

sistent  member  of  a   church  in  a   neigh- 
boring state. 

Wakened  to  a  livelier  sense  of  the  soul's 
inestimable  value,  she  thought  out  another 
method  of  scattering  broadcast  the  good 
seed.  She  resolved  to  place  in  the  hand 
of  each  operative  in  the  five  manufactories 
in  town  a  religious  tract,  which  she  ac- 
complished. In  one  case,  the  agenf  upon 
whom  she  called  to  ask  permission,  pro- 
posed that  she  should  leave  them  in  his 
charge,  to  which  she  readily  assented. 
When  this  last  enterprise  was  discovered 
by  a  few  of  her  sisters  in  the  church,  they 
insisted  that  she  should  permit  them  to 
defray  the  pecuniary  expense  attending  it. 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF. 


145 


CHAPTER    lY 


"  Gloom  is  upon  thy  lonely  hearth, 
Oh,  silent  house!  once  filled  with  mirth: 
Sorrow  is  in  the  breezy  sound 
Of  thy  tall"  lindens,  "  whispering  round." 


Meanwhile,   there    had    been     a   change 
in  the  occupancy  of  the  paternal  mansion. 

Captain   C had   removed;    and    two 

of  the  nieces  of  Mrs.  Greenleaf,  with  their 
families,  came  successively  to  reside  there. 
Again  the  gay  footsteps  and  glad  voices 
of  children  made  its  large  halls  and  apart- 
ments vocal.  They  loved  to  spend  their 
evenings  with  "  cousin  Mary."  She  assisted 
them  in  their  studies,  and  by  her  cheerful 
air  and  conversation  commended  that 
religion  which  some  of  them  had  already 
sought  and  obtained.     They,  in  their  turn. 


146  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

aided  her  in  her  occupations ;  they  read 
to  Mrs.  Greenleaf,  and  sat  with  her,  while 
Mary  refreshed  her  spirit  at  the  lecture 
and  prayer-meeting.  Of  that  little  band, 
three  lovely  sisters  in  the  beautiful  spring- 
time of  life,  within  two  years  of  each 
other,  have  since  passed  away  from  earth, 
— Eliza,  Sarah,  Ellen.  They  were  all 
members  of  Christ's  church  on  earth,  and 
gave  most  assuring  evidence  of  the  home 
and  family  in  heaven  to  which  they  be- 
longed. 

Now  the  days  drew  on  for  this  Christiana 
and  Mercy  to  be  separated.  Some  two 
or  three  years  previous,  when  this  event 
seemed  probable,  the  family  physician 
liad  intimated  to  Miss  Greenleaf,  that  her 
mother's  illness  was  of  an  alarming  char- 
acter. The  thought  of  this  was  so  dis- 
tressing to  her,  that  he  remarked,  "  You 
do  not  seem  willing  to  give  up  your  mo- 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  147 

tlier  ?  "  She  frankly  admitted  that  she  was 
utterly  un-ready  to  do  so.  God,  in  tender 
compassion  spared  her  at  that  time.  But 
now  the  daily  suffering  which  her  mother 
endured,  so  sweetly  and  submissively;  and 
her  deep  and  solemn  searchings  of  heart, 
suggestive  of  the  awful  nature  of  the 
transition,  which  none  can  fully  realize, 
reconciled  the  daughter  in  some  degree, 
to  the  event  of  that  last  sad  morning, 
when  the  mother  slept  upon  earth  to 
awake  in  heaven.     She  writes  : — 

"  On  the  15th  of  May,  1851,  at  a  quarter 
past  four  in  the  morning,  she  sweetly 
slept  in  Jesus.  As  I  watched  beside  her 
with  E.  N.,  and  saw  that  she  had  really 
ceased  to  breathe*,  my  first  emotion  was 
gratitude,  that  she  was  safely  landed  in 
the  haven  of  eternal  rest,  where  she  would 
experience  no  more  pain,  no  more  sorrow, 


148  LIFE      AND     LETTERS 

because  there  would  be  no  more  sin.  As 
I  looked  upon  her  countenance,  so  placid 
in  death,  I  felt  that  I  must  utter  some 
of  my  emotions.  1  fell  on  my  knees,  and 
attempted  to  give  thanks  that  her  warfare 
was  accomplished, — and  that  she  had  been 
so  gently  released." 

That  mother's  face  was  furrowed  with 
the  wrinkles  of  age,  and  many  emotions ; 
but  after  death,  as  is  sometimes  the  case, 
the  wrinkles  vanished,  and  the  cheek  re- 
sumed the  rounded  smoothness  of  earlier 
years.  One  who  looked  upon  her,  re- 
marked that  he  could  have  wished  to 
remain  all  day  gazing  upon  the  counte- 
nance beautified  and  spiritualized  by  death. 
Another  change  came,  and  she  appeared 
as  in  her  usual  sleep.  It  was  deeply 
affecting  to  look  for  the  last  time,  upon 
that  loved  and  venerated  face.     To  think 


MARY     C.      GREENLEAF.  149 

that  the  long,  rough,  weary  way,  had  all 
been  passed, — she  had  got  safe  home. 
The  cross  upborne  so  long,  was  now  laid 
away  forever.  She  had  already  kissed  the 
blessed  feet  of  her  Saviour, — his  wounded 
hands  had  placed  the  crown  iipon  her 
brow ;  the  work  and  worship  of  heaven 
was  begun. 

At  the  funeral,  the  scene  which  occurred 
in  the  room  where  the  chief  mourners 
were  assembled,  was  somewhat  unusual. 
The  nearest  relatives  were  the  ones  to 
console  the  hearts  of  those  around  them. 
There  sat  the  daughter,  her  soul  not  yet 
dissevered  from  her  mother,  as  the  hand 
of  death  will  dissever ;  the  beloved  sister, 
who  for  more  than  eighty  years  had  shared 
her  every  joy  and  sorrow ;  the  aged  bro- 
ther-in-law, formerly  her  pastor  ;  the  sister 
by  marriage,  also  more  than  eighty  years 
of  age,  all  in  a  little  group,  communing  in 


150  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

a  strain  of  pious  gratulation  over  the 
thought  of  the  ransomed  spirit.  The  large 
circle  of  kindred  and  friends  listened  with 
tears  of  mingled,  sad  and  joyful  emotion. 

Let  us  pause  a  moment,  and  in  the 
light  of  God's  providence,  consider  the 
principles,  and  course  of  life  of  these 
Christian  women, — these  exemplars  of  the 
precepts, — the  permissions  of  our  blessed 
Lord  in  his  sermon  on  the  mount.  Living 
as  they  did,  "  not  by  bread  alone,  but  by 
every  word  that  proceedeth  out  of  the 
mouth  of  God,"  believing  themselves  as 
truly  safe  in  the  care  of  their  Father  and 
Redeemer,  as  if  they  had  already  crossed 
"  the  river  that  has  no  bridge,"  and  wore 
upon  the  other  side  of  its  "  stormy  banks," 
let  us  observe  God's  manner  of  dealing 
with  them. 

They  sought  "  the  kingdom  of  God  and 
his  righteousness,"  and  not  the  three  world- 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.         151 

idols.  They  sought  not  wealth  ;  yet  God 
gave  them  all  tilings  needful.  Though 
often  in  perplexity,  they  never  suffered 
the  evils  of  actual  poverty.  Their  table, 
especially  at  the  noon-tide  hour,  was 
always  well  spread ;  their  cup,  though  it 
did  not  overflow,  was  full.  Above  all, 
they  never  denied  themselves  the  luxury 
of  giving.  They  sought  not  pleasure, — 
yet  every  line  in  their  expressive  counte- 
nances told  that  peace,  that  joy,  that 
happiness  was  theirs.  They  sought  not 
power ;  yet  that  highest  of  all  power,  the 
art  of  drawing  souls  heavenward,  was 
given  them  in  large  measure.  The  native 
tenderness  and  suavity  of  Mrs.  Greenleaf's 
character,  and  the  purifying  furnace  in 
which  she  had  been  long  kept  by  the 
Refiner,  prepared  her  to  be  an  eminent 
blessing  to  others.  She  knew  well  what 
sorrow   meant ;   and    through   her   flowed 


152  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

down  rich  consolation  to  the  poor  and 
afflicted.  Her  look,  and  smile,  and  gentle 
address  were  each  a  benediction.  Slie 
had  only  to  open  her  hand  and  scatter 
the  seed  liberally.  More  physically  ener- 
getic, and  less  soft  and  winning  than  her 
mother,  it  was  Mary's  part  to  plough 
deep,  and  plant  carefully,  and  water  fre- 
quently, waiting  in  hope,  as  they  both 
did,  for  the  precious  fruit.  She  waited 
not  long,  nor  in  vain.  It  becomes  all,  in 
speaking  of  things  pertaining  to  the  invisi- 
ble church  of  Christ,  to  be  cautious.  Yet 
surely  what  we  regard  as  the  fruit  under 
God,  of  her  labors,  is  not  as  are  the 
apples  of  Sodom, — fair  to  the  sight,  but 
deceitful.  It  still  buds,  and  blossoms, 
and  ripens. 

While  thus  diligently  employed  in  the 
service  of  the  Master,  he  of  course  pro- 
vided   their    needful    temporal     supplies. 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.         153 

As  each  iii  turn  entered  his  presence 
above,  had  he  asked  them,  as  he  did  his 
first  disciples,  whom  he  sent  forth  two 
and  two,  "  When  I  sent  you  without 
purse  and  scrip, — lacked  ye  any  thing  ?  " 
they  too  would  have  replied,  "  Nothing." 
The  means  by  which  the  supply  of  their 
wants  was  ordained,  though  humbling 
to  proud  hearts,  yet  to  these  tender  and 
loving  ones,  were  not  distasteful.  Aside 
from  the  exertions  of  the  daughter,  they 
chiefly  came  through  the  ever  watchful 
care  of  a  brother  and  sister,  and  the 
various  branches  of  the  family  of  which 
they  were  the  united  head.  The  daily 
note  which  passed  between  the  sisters 
might  fail,  but  never  the  weekly  token 
of  affection.  This  care  was  not  inter- 
mitted while  either  of  the  objects  of  it 
was  within  reach.  Other  Christian  friends 
too,   felt   it    a   privilege   to   aid   disciples. 


154  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

wearing    so    unmistakably   the    badge    of 
the  Master. 

It  was  all  over  ; — that  tender,  watchful 
devotion  so  well  merited,  so  interesting 
to  witness.  Miss  Greenleaf's  home  was 
now  desolate  ;  yet  she  went  on  her  way 
as  usual.  There  was  probably  an  uncon- 
scious excitement,  a  degree  of  mental 
exaltation,  arising  from  the  thought  of 
all  her  mother  had  been,  of  all  she  now 
was,  that  sustained  her  in  some  measure 
through  the  first  few  weeks  of  bereave- 
ment ;  but  her  joyous  laugh  was  for  a 
long  time  hushed.  The  next  Sabbath 
morning  she  was  in  her  class  as  usual. 
She  had  thought  of  excusing  herself  that 
day,  but  she  seemed  to  hear  her  mother's 
voice,  saying,  in  her  pleasant,  sententious 
manner  :  "  Mary,  go  right  forward."*  So 
she  went.     She  heard  the  lessons  recited 


Appendix,  Note  D. 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  155 

with  her  usual  composure  ;  but  when  she 
came  to  allude  to  her  recent  affliction, 
her   feelings    overcame  her. 

To  a  cousin  residing  in  New  Hampshire, 
she  writes  under  date  of  May  22d. 

"  I  must  tell  you  how  wonderfully  the 
Lord  has  supported  me  through  this  sore 
bereavement.  I  have  always  looked  for- 
ward to  it  as  to  the  climax  of  all  my 
sorrows.  Yet  when  I  have  seen  her 
suffering  such  extreme  pain  all  winter, 
I  have  been  made  willing  to  part  with  her, 
knowing  it  would  be  unspeakable  gain  to 
her  to  die.  I  slept  alone  the  night  after 
her  decease,  without  a  gloomy  feeling. 
And  now  that  I  have  returned  to  the 
chamber  from  which  she  took  her  upward 
flight,  it  seems  to  me  a  sweet  spot,  to 
which  I  should  be  loth  to  bid  adieu." 


156  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

To  HER  Friend  and  Sabbath  Scholar. 

"  Sabbath  morning. 
"  My  dear  Mary, 

"  I  have  had  a  night  of  quiet  sleep, 
and  have  risen  with  new  strength.  I 
have  just  been  reading  all  the  pieces  jou 
marked  in  the  book  you  have  given  me. 
They  were  very  appropriate.  I  thank  you 
much  for  the  kind  sympathy  I  have  re- 
ceived from  you,  in  this  time  of  great 
bereavement.  It  is  very  soothing  to  my 
wounded  heart,  and  helps  to  alleviate 
much  of  the  pain  which  must  necessarily 
be  felt  when  the  tender  tie  which  binds 
the  parent  to  the  child,  is  severed  by  the 
stroke  of  death.  May  the  Lord  reward 
you  a  thousand  fold  lor  all  your  kindness 
to  me   these  many  years. 

"  0 !    Mary,    what    a    good    Master   we 
serve !    AVhat  a  sympathizing  High  Priest 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  157 

we  have  !  I  feel  that  I  ought  to  praise 
Him  that  lie  has  not  only  supported^  but 
even  comforted  me  in  this  time  of  need.  0! 
may  I  be  enabled  to  render  unto  him 
according  to  the  great  benefits  I  have 
received !  I  hope  we  shall  have  a  profit- 
able season  this  morning  at  the  chapel, 
the   Holy  Spirit  helping  our  infirmities." 


To  another  friond  she  writes : — 

"  Pray  for  me,  that  I  may  rightly  im- 
prove this  dispensation ;  that  I  may  be 
humble,  prayerful,  vmtchful,  and  spiritually 
minded. 

"•.I  think  I  shall  not  go  to  the  West 
for  a  home, — nor  on  a  visit  at  jjresenf. 
However  pleasant  it  would  be  to  me  to 
be  with  my  dear  brother.  I  do  not  feel 
like  breaking  up  all  my  associations  here  ; 


158  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

and  if  I  have  the  disposition  to  do  good, 
there  is  no  want  of  opportunity  here." 

To  Miss  M.  P.  S.,  after  hearing  a  ser- 
mon upon  the  death  of  the  righteous. 

"  Sabbath  eve. — Yes,  my  dear  Mary, 
you  were  right  in  supposing  my  thoughts 
were  much  with  my  dear  mother  to-day. 
No  Sabbath  has  seemed  so  much  like  tlie 
one  after  her  departure.  And  though 
my  tears  would  flow,  in  spite  of  my  efforts 
to  suppress  them ;  yet  I  could  not  but 
enjoy  the  delightful  sermon,  and  anticipate 
the  time,  when  after  having  done  and 
suffered  all  God's  will  here  below,  we 
may  hope  to  join  our  redeemed  friends 
above. 

'  A  hope   so   much   divine 
May  trials   well   endure.' 


MARY     C  .     G  R  E  E  N-»L  E  A  P  .  159 

''  Your  dear  departed  sister,  and  mul- 
titudes of  otliers  are  now  before  the  tlirone, 
being  made  perfectly  holy  by  the  blood 
of  the  Lamb.  It  is  our  lot  now,  to  '  fight 
the  good  fight  of  faith,' — and  thougli  we 
may  often  be  '  discouraged  because  of  the 
way,'  let  us  seek  for  grace  daily  to  go 
on  in  the  narrow  path.  We  must  expect 
to  bo  continually  disciplined,  till  the  last 
stain  of  sin  is  purged  away.  But  no 
matter, — it  is  but  momentary,  compared 
with  eternity. 

"  I  thank  you  for  your  prayers.  Con- 
tinue them.  I  do  not  forget  you.  We 
had  a  precious  sermon  this  afternoon  ; 
but  I  feel  condemned  that  I  profit  so  little 
under   such   means   of  grace.     Adieu." 

Miss  Greenleaf's  only  brother.  Rev. 
William  C.  Gi-eenleaf,  still  remained  to 
her ;   and  it  was  natural  that  her  thoughts 


160  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

should  now  rest  upon  him  with  fonder 
interest  and  affection.  He  wrote  repeat- 
edly after  the  death  of  their  mother, 
urging  his  sister  to  come  out  to  Spring- 
field, Illinois,  Avhere  he  resided,  and  make 
her  future  home  with  his  family.  In  a 
little  more  than  two  months,  he  too  was 
called  to  enter  his  Father's  house  above  ! 
He  was  seized  one  morning  with  cholera, 
and  died  at  night.  Her  faithful  friend 
and  pupil,  unapprised  of  the  sad  intelli- 
gence which  had  just  reached  Miss  Green- 
leaf,  went  in  on  Thursday  evening,  and 
found  her  sitting  silent ;  her  eyes  resting 
upon  the  open  Bible.  A  cousin  was  with 
her,  but  no  word  was  spoken.  Her  friend 
withdrew,  and  sent  the  expression  of  her 
sympathy  in  a  note,  to  which  Miss  Green- 
leaf  soon  responded.  Her  own  words 
reveal  the  manner  in  which  she  received 
this  added  stroke  of  God's  afBictino:  hand. 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  161 

They  are  addressed  to  lier  bereaved  sister- 
in-law. 

"  Newhuryport,  July  Zlst,      | 
Thursday  evening-.  ) 
"  My  dear  afflicted  Sister, 

"  Your  letter  has  been  received 
within  two  hours.  I  can  hardly  compose 
myself  to  write,  so  heavily  has  this  unex- 
pected bereavement  fallen  upon  me.  Yet 
I  feel  that  yours  is  far  greater,  and  I 
would  not  sit  down,  and  indulge  in  selfish 
sorrow,  and  forget  you.  Yet  how  can  I 
comfort  you,  when  my  own  heart  is  burst- 
ing with  grief.  '  The  God  of  all  consola- 
tion '  can  alone  sustain  and  comfort  us, — 
and  having  so  recently  experienced  his 
power  to  sustain,  we  must  not  distrust 
him  now.  '  A  Father  of  the  fatherless, 
and  a  Judge  of  the  widow  is  God  in  his 
holy  habitation.'     To  him  I  commend  you 


162  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

in  this  day  of  adversity  ;  and  doubt  not 
that  he  will  be  near  to  you,  and  enable 
you  to  lean  on  his  Almighty  arm.  For 
a  few  days'  past,  I  had  been  thinking 
more  of  seeing  my  dear  brother  another 
year,  should  our  lives  be  spared,  and 
had  indulged  some  pleasing  anticipations 
of  enjoying  his  pleasant  society  once  more. 
But  now  these  hopes  are  all  blasted.  Still 
we  must  not  forget  the  great  mercies 
mingled  with  this  bitter  cup.  That  we 
have  reason  to  believe  that  death  to  him, 
was  the  gate  of  endless  joy, — and  that  he 
has  joined  our  beloved  mother,  and  all 
the  pious  dead,  is  a  mercy  which  demands 
our  most  lively  gratitude.  It  will  not  be 
long  ere  we  too,  shall  be  called  to  pass 
over  Jordan,  and  enter  the  heavenly 
Canaan, — and  how  light  will  our  trials 
then  seem !  May  this  event  be  specially 
sanctified   to   us    both,   and   to    the    dear 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  163 

children ;  your  brothers  and  sisters,  and 
all  friends.  I  do  hope  your  life  and 
health  will  be  pieserved,  and  that  you 
will  not  be  overwhelmed  with   care   and 

anxiety.     I  trust  Mr.  R will  relieve 

you  at  once  from  all  care  of  the  place, 
which,  I  fear,  has  worn  too  much  upon 
my  beloved  brother,  and  predisposed  him 
to  this  disease.  But  I  would  not  dwell 
upon  second  causes.  Our  bounds  are  set, 
and  we  cannot  pass  them, — and  I  rather 
think  William  would  have  preferred  a 
short  illness.  It  is  a  comfort  to  me  to 
think  that  he  did  not  linger  longer  in  a 
suffering  state." 

'•^Friday  morn. — I  slept  considerably  last 
night,  but  was  dreaming  of  you,  my  dear 
sister.  I  thought  your  conversation  was 
very  pleasant,  telling  me  how  useful  Wil- 
liam  had   been, — that  his   preaching  had 


164  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

been  blessed  in  several  instances.  I)o  tell 
me  all  respecting  him  you  can. 

"  Life  seems  very  short  to  me, — these 
feverish  attacks  which  I  have  often,  remind 
me  that  I  shall  soon  depart.  May  it  be 
'  to  be  with  Christ,  which   is  far  better.' 

"  Adieu,  dear  sister.  I  commend  you 
to  the  widow's  God,  and  trust  he  will 
support  and  comfort  you." 

She  stood  by  the  grave  of  her  mother, 
with  her  friend  Mary  P.  S.  at  her  side. 
"  There  lies  my  dear  mother,"  she  said, 
"  my  brother's  grave  is  far,  far  distant. 
But  their  spirits  are  united  in  heaven. 
I  hope  I  may  be  permitted  to  lie  down 
by  her  side  ;  but  I  do  not  know  how  it 
may  be." 

Her  friend  inquired  "  whether  in  all  her 
recent  affliction  she  could  feel  entirely 
resigned  to  the  will  of  God  ?  "   She  replied. 


MARY     C.     GREEN  LEAF.         165 

"  I  think  I  can.  ifes,  I  do  leel  that  I 
have  evidence  of  being  a  child  of  God. 
He  is  ray  kind  J'ather.  I  shall  meet  my 
dear  mother  and  brother  again  in  heaven." 
This  is  all  that,  after  the  lapse  of  years, 
is  recollected  of  a  conversation,  which  at 
the  time,  made  a  deep  impression  upon 
the  mind  of  her  friend. 

Previous  to  the  death  of  her  brother, 
she  had,  at  the  urgent  request  of  friends, 
decided  to  prepare  a  memoir  of  lier  mother. 
It  was  commenced  the  second  week  in 
August.  But  leaving  town  for  some 
weeks,  and  being  otherwise  interrupted, 
she  had  by  the  first  of  October,  completed 
only  thirty-six  pages.  She  says,  "  The 
second  week.  Synod  met  here, — four  of 
them  put  up  with  me,  and  that  week 
I  could  not  write. "  I  hurried  on  after- 
wards, and  by  the  assistance  of  a  few 
friends,  one  in  particular,  it  was  written 

12 


166  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

and  published  the  26th  of  November." 
She  adds,  "  It  was  favorably  received, 
though  not  flattered,  but  generally  criti- 
cised. I  was  prepared  to  have  it  put 
down  as  a  most  inferior  memoir, — and  I 
felt  willing  to  have  my  pride  mortified  by 
its  being  despised.  Yet,  I  hoped  it  might 
do  so7)ie  good,  and  I  have  evidence  that 
it  has  done  a  little.  The  third  edition 
came  out  the  next  year  under  the  auspices 
of  the  Massachusetts  Sabbath  School  So- 
ciety. 

The  winter  of  1851-2,  she  passed  in  the 
family  of  a  near  relative,  rendering  herself 
to  his  invalid  daughter,  and  each  member 
of  his  family,  including  grand-children,  a 
comfort  and  a  blessing.  She  returned  to 
her  home  in  the  spring.  Its  apartments, 
large  and  lonely  for  an  individual,  were 
yet  endeared  to  her  by  early,  and  still 
more  by  later  recollections,  and  when  she 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAP.  167 

quitted  them  finally,  it  was  with  sincere 
regret. 

What  mysteries  attend  this  being  of 
ours  !  —this  union  of  soul  and  sense.  In 
the  onward  rush  of  an  active  outer  life  ; 
when,  to  all  around,  we  seem  absorbed 
in  the  present,  a  sweet-scented  flower,  a 
strain  of  music,  or  the  annual  return  of 
a  day,  has  power  to  bear  the  heart  irresist- 
ably  back  through  the  unforgotten  past. 
Friends  called  upon  Miss  Greenleaf  on  the 
15th  of  May,  but  discerned  not  beneath 
her  quiet  manner,  the  deep  under-current 
of  lamenting  love.  The  receipt  of  a  note 
of  affectionate  sympathy  led  her  to  dis- 
close it. 

"  Sabbath  evening,  May  IQth. — It  was 
very  kind  in  you,  dear  Mary,  to  write 
me  that  note  yesterday, — and  to  think  of 
the   solemn   and  affecting  event  of  which 


168  LIFE     AND     LETTEKS 

that  day  was  the  anniversary.  I  did  not 
know  that  any  one  remembered  it  but 
me.  I  sat  alone  in  the  morning  busily 
engaged  in  plying  the  needle  ;  but  my 
thoughts  were  not  confined  to  my  work. 
Indeed,  through  the  whole  week,  though 
much  occupied,  I  have  lived  over  again, 
as  it  were,  the  scenes  of  that  memorable 
week, — to  the  dear  departed  resulting 
in  the  consummation  of  all  her  hopes 
and  wishes,  her  soul  immediately  passing 
into  glory  as  I  doubt  not.  Though,  as 
you  suppose,  I  have  some  sad  hours, — 
for  it  would  be  most  unnatural  not  to 
feel  the  severing  of  the  tender  tie,  which 
had  so  long  bound  us  together ;  yet  in 
general,  I  have  been  enabled  to  rejoice 
that  she  is 

'  No   longer   in   misery   now, 
No   longer  a   sinner   like   me.' 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAP.  169 


"  The  separation  at  the  longest,  I  feel 
will  be  very  short,  and  1  only  wish  to  fill 
up  the  remnant  of  life  with  duty;  and 
be  prepared  to  join  her  in  the  realms  of 
endless  day. 

"I  thank  you,  dear  M.,  for  all  your 
kind  wishes,— and  for  your  prayers,  and 
pray  you  may  be  abundantly  rewarded. 
That  we  shall  love  each  other  in  heaven, 
if  so  blessed  as  to  reach  there,  I  cannot 
doubt.  How  often  would  my  dear  mother 
repeat  the  lines  : — 

'  There,   oa   a  green  and  flowery  mount, 
Our  weary   souls   shall  sit ; 
And   with   transporting  joy   recount, 
The  labors   of  our  feet.' 

"  I  try  to  remember  your  brother,  but 
am  not  half  earnest  enough.  Yet  I  fondly 
hope  he  will  not  die  unrenewed.  God 
hears  and  answers  prayer. 


170  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

"  I  have  numerous  and  various  duties 
before  me  this  week.  Will  you  specially 
remember  me  as  I  will  try  to  you  ?  I 
trust,  dear  M.,  you  are  not  deceived. 
The  many  fears  you  have,  are  no  evidence 
against  you, — yet  I  want  you  to  remember 
this  text, — '  The  Lord  takes  pleasure  in 
them  that  fear  him, — in  those  that  hope 
in  his  mercy.'     Adieu." 

A  visit  from  her  widowed  sister-in-law, 
during  the  summer  of  1852,  comforted 
and  cheered  her.  The  sisters,  thus  more 
than  ever,  drawn  towards  each  other  by 
the  double  bereavement,  evidently  "  took 
sweet  counsel  together."  In  the  autumn, 
Miss  Greenleaf  was  again  called  to  remove, 
and  the  door  of  a  pleasant  tenement, 
exactly  adapted  to  her  wants,  seemed  to 
open  of  itself,  to  admit  this  child  of 
Providence.     Here,  for  a  time,  her  friends 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  171 

took  great  pleasure  in  visiting,  and  calling 
upon  her ;  but  so  much  was  she  in  demand 
among  them,  that  it  soon  came  to  be  for 
herself  but   an   occasional   retreat.      The 
strong  and  tender  tie  whicli  had  bound  her 
so  long  to  home-cares    and    duties,  being 
severed,   she  became,  more   than   ever,  if 
possible,  the  handmaid    of  the  Lord  and 
his  church.     The  call  of  sickness  or  trou- 
ble,  or   need   of  any  kind,   received   her 
ready   response.      It  has    been   remarked 
elsewhere,  that  she  was  never  in  the  icay. 
It  is  equally  true,  that  in  these  cases  she 
was  never  out  of  the  icay.     Her  assistance 
was  usually  not  un-requited  ;   indeed  she 
was  blessed  with  most  warm  and  generous 
friends ;   but   her  manner  of   performing 
her   part,  plainly  indicated  that  a  higher 
motive  than  earthly  reward,  furnished  the 
stimulus.     Love  to  God  and  her  neighbor 
shone    conspicuous   through    the    outward 


172  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

acts  of  her  life.  Her  presence  in  the  sick- 
room was  one  of  those  cordial's  which  aid 
recovery.  Her  busy  little  fingers,  while 
they  seemed  at  play  with  needle  and  scis- 
sors, accomplished  marvels.  She  supplied 
every  want  and  wish  as  it  arose  ;  reading 
far  into  the  night  if  desired  ;  coming  up 
with  a  smile  from  the  table,  to  repeat  the 
lively  sally,  or  witty  anecdote  which  had 
amused  her,  and  ever  seeking  to  commu- 
nicate to  her  invalid  friend  the  sweet 
influence  of  her  own  devout  spirit. 

After  an  occasional  absence  she  would 
return  with  fresh  satisfaction  to  her  loved 
seclusion,  which  on  Sabbaths,  and  Tuesday 
evenings,  witnessed  her  secret  and  social 
communings  with  her  God  and  Saviour. 
Concluding  a  somewhat  lengthened  resi- 
dence witli  friends,  she  makes  the  follow- 
ing tender  and  o-rateful  record  : — 


MART     C.     GREENLEAP.  173 


"  I  was  treated  with  uniform  kindness 
by  all  the  family,  and  though  glad  to 
get  home,  I  could  not  leave  them  without 
some  emotion.  May  they  be  rewarded 
abundantly  for  their  kind  treatment  to 
the  orphan.  It  was  worth  more  to  me 
than  thousands  of  silver  and  gold." 

The  church  and  society  to  which  Miss 
Greenleaf  belonged,  has  been  distinguished 
from  the  first,  for  its  warm  and  clearly 
manifested  interest  in  the  prophets,  and 
the  sons  of  the  prophets.  This,  some  of 
the  most  devoted  ministers  and  mission- 
aries can  testify.  They  give  to  them  and 
to  the  cause  of  Christ  liberally;  and  as 
though  they  loved  to  give.  Silver  and 
gold  had  Miss  Greenleaf  not  much,  but 
she  gave  time  and  energy,  and  carried 
many  a  good  project  through  to  comple- 
tion.    In    each  of  her  own    pastors,  four 


174  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

out  of  five  of  whom  survive,  she  felt  a 
deep  and  peculiar  interest.  The  preached 
Word  was  to  her,  as  "  honey  out  of  the 
rock."  She  fed  and  feasted  upon  it.  She 
never  tired  of  the  contemplation  of  the 
attinbutes  and  ways  of  her  God  and  Father, 
of  the  love  and  offices  of  her  Redeemer. 
She  commenced  at  the  age  of  eighteen, 
writing  out  abstracts  of  the  sermons,  and 
Bible  class  lectures  which  she  attended. 
A  large  number  of  these  remain,  monu- 
ments of  her  neatness  and  industry. 

In  the  family  of  the  present  pastor  of 
her  church,  she  frequently  spent  days, 
and  even  weeks.  The  fact  that  he  had 
so  excellent  an  opportunity  of  ascertaining 
her  worth,  enhances  the  value  of  the 
affectionate  tribute  he  has  paid  to  her 
memory.  It  was  the  standing  rule  for 
his  little  son  to  spend  one  day  in  each 
week,  (usually  Monday),  with  her,  when- 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.         175 

ever  she  was  at  home.  He  was  very  fond 
of  "my  aunt  Mary,"  as  we  have  heard 
him  call  her. 

During  the  early  part  of  the  winter  of 
1852-3,  she  again  made  her  home  in  the 
house  of  her  uncle,  taking  a  daughter's 
place  most  cheerfully  and  entirely  ;  read- 
ing and  writing  for  him,  and  pursuing 
her  own  numerous  avocations  with  her 
accustomed   diligence   and   punctuality. 

The  15th  of  May,  1853,  again  brought 
words  of  sympathy  from  her  friend  Mary. 
She   replied : 

"  Sabbath  noon. — It  was  more  than  I 
expected  my  dear  Mary,  that  you  should 
remember  this  anniversary  of  the  depart- 
ure of  my  precious  mother,  so  early 
and  so  particularly,  and  I  do  thank 
you  for  ever?/  expression  of  sympatliy 
in   your   note.     I   was   so   unbelieving  as 


176  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

to  think  no  one  but  myself  would  re- 
member that  important  event,  so  un- 
speakably joyful  to  the  dear  departed, 
so  deeply  wounding  to  her  desolate 
child.  I  cannot  say  that  the  day  thus 
far,  has  been  very  sad  to  me.  Proba- 
bly in  answer  to  your  prayers  and  mine, 
I  have  had,  I  think,  some  spiritual  en- 
joyment, some  delight  in  contemplating 
her  complete  bliss,  some  sweet  submis- 
sion to  the  Divine  will.  'Tis  true,  I 
have  not  been  able  entirely  to  restrain 
the  tears  of  filial  affection,  and  I  write 
now  almost  blinded  with  them.  Yet, 
blessed  be  God,  I  would  not  for  worlds, 
alter  His  ivill^  for  it  is — it  must  be — 
best.  The  sermon  this  morning  has 
been  peculiarly  refreshing  to  my  bleed- 
ing heart.  Yesterday,  I  took  up  the 
little  book,  '  Gems  of  Sacred  Poetry,' 
which   you   designed    for    my   sister,    and 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  177 


was  much  comforted  by  the  hymn, 
'  My  times  are  in  thy  hand' — particu- 
larly  with   these    lines, 

'  My  Father's  hand  will  never  cause 
His  child  a  needless  tear.' 

"  I  cannot  doubt  that  '  all  things  will 
work  together'  for  my  spiritual  profit, 
and  that  should  satisfy  me.  I  tried 
to  remember  you  tliis  morning,  and 
hope  you  will  be  .  enabled  to  '  sow  in 
hope!'  As  I  came  out  of  the  chapel  I 
was   greeted   afiectionately   by  one  of  my 

former  scholars,  Mrs.  K ,  (formerly  H. 

D .)      When    she    was    in    my  class 

for   years,   and  her  sister   E ,  I   used 

to  think  they  were  so  thoughtless  I 
could  never  do  them  any  good ;  but 
now  they  are  both,  I  trust,  in  the 
kingdom.  This  ought  to  be  a  lesson 
to   me   not  to  be   discouraged. 


178  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

"  Tomorrow  I  am  called  very  unex- 
pectedly to    go    to    L ,    on   business, 

expecting  to  return  in  the  evening. 
Though  I  have  no  fears,  yet  the  numer- 
ous accidents  on  railroads  should  re- 
mind us  that  we  may  be  called  sud- 
denly into  eternity.  I  have  a  prevailing 
impression  that  my  stay  in  this  world 
will  be  very  short — and  to-day  especially, 
as  I  thought  of  my  dear  brother's  last 
Sabbath  on  earth,  I  wished  to  be 
reminded  that  I  may  be  called  as  sud- 
denly. Yet  I  hope  I  am  willing  to 
live,  and  labor,  and  suffer,  as  long  as 
God  sees  best,  though,  '  to  depart  and 
be   with   Christ,'    seems   far   better. 

"  May  God  richly  reward  you,  my 
dear  Mary,  for  your  prayers  for  me 
this  day^  and  for  your  note,  which  I 
think   you  were  directed   to   write. 

"  As  ever,  &c." 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.         179 


CHAPTER     V. 


"  Ah,  be  not  sad  1  ah,  do  not  weep ! 

Ere  thou  lay  thee  down  to  sleep 
The  sleep  of  death— 
Thou  Shalt  feel  anew, 
Spring  s  klndb'  dew. 

And  the  May-wind's  fragrant  breath." 


FOUQUE. 


The  tenor  of  Miss  Greealeaf  s  life  was  now 
more  frequently  varied  by  visits  to  rela- 
tives and  friends  out  of  town,  in  Mass- 
achusetts and  New  Hampsliire.  She 
carried  sunshine  with  her.  In  the 
domestic  circles  which  she  entered,  her 
presence  is  still  referred  to  with  vivid 
interest.  The  celerity  of  her  move- 
ments, her  lively  remarks,  her  graphic 
descriptions,  her  Dorcas  deeds,  her  fresh 
interest  in  passing  scenes  and  events 
will  long  be   remembered.     To  a  person 


180  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

of  her  simple  tastes  and  habits,  country 
life  was  very  attractive.  She  enjoyed 
rural  scenes  and  pleasures,  she  loved 
animals  and  pets,  and  to  be  among 
flowers,  which  she  always  cultivated. 
She  writes  to  a  cousin  residing  in  New 
Hampshire ;  "  you  do  not  know  how 
often  I  think  of  my  pleasant  visit  with 
you.  It  was  a  delightful  retreat  from 
the  cares  of  life,  and  was  of  great 
service   to   me." 

To   the  daughter  of  her  cousin,  under 
date  of  October   8th,  1852  : 

"  My  dear  Mary, 

"  I  suppose  you  may  have  thought 
that  I  was  more  ready  to  promise  to 
write  you,  than  to  perform  ;  but  I  have 
never  found  time  till  now,  and  I  can 
only  spare  a  few  minutes.     How  often  do 


MAEY     C.     GREENLEAF.  181 

I  think  of  the  pleasant  rambles  I  had 
with  you  !  And  I  fancy  you  have  often 
been  the  same  rounds  since,  though  not 
for  the  same  purpose,  as  the  berries 
were  all  gathered  before  I  left.  But 
now  I  suppose  you  get  apples  and  other 
fruits  in  your  walks,  and  when  at  home, 
assist  your  dear  mother  in  sewing,  &c. 

"  Do  you  love  to  knit  ?  And  have  you 
ever  worn  a  pair  of  stockings  of  your 
own  manufacture  ?  You  read  consider- 
able, I  presume,  and  are  adding  to 
your  stock  of  knowledge  every  day. 
That  is  the  way  to  learn.  Youth,  you 
know,  is  tlie  seed-time  of  life,  and  you 
must  try  to  sow  only  good  seed.  Take 
the  Bible  for  your  guide,  my  dear  Mary, 
and  you  cannot  go  astray.  Like  Mary 
of  old,  choose  'that  good  part  which  can- 
not be  taken  away.' 

"  I  shall    hope  to  see    you    here    soon 

13 


182  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

with  your  mother.  I  must  now  bid  you 
adieu.  Give  love  to  Johnny,  hope  he 
and  the  steers  are  good  friends  still.  I 
should  like  to  have  you  write  me. 

"  In   great  haste, 

"  Your  affectionate  cousin, 
"  Mary." 
Again : — 

"  Newburyport,  July  IQth,   1853. 
"  My  dear  Mary, 

"Have  you  forgotten  your  promise 
to  write  me  as  soon  as  you  found  out 
the  answer  to  that  Bible  Exercise  in  the 
Sabbath  School  Visiter?  Or  have  you 
not  found  it  out  yet  ?  I  studied  out 
the    answer  in    a  few    days    after  I   saw 

you,  and  will  give  it  you  now." 

******* 

"  I  hope,  my  dear  cousin,  you  love  to 
study  the  Bible,  and  will  lay  up  a 
large  stock  of  it  in   your  memory  while 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.         183 

you  are  young.  I  would  recommend 
the  19th,  20th,  and  23d  Psalms  for  you 
to  commit  to  memory,  also  the  34th, 
51st,  90th,  91st,  103d,  and  as  many  others 
as  you  can.  If  you  learn  one  every 
week,  you  know  there  will  be  fifty- 
two  in  a  year,  and  how  glad  you  will 
be  to  have  so  much  stored  in  your 
memory ! 

"It  is  late  in  the  evening,  so  you  will 
excuse  my  short  letter,  but  be  sure 
and  answer  it ;  and  tell  me  all  about 
the  family  and  the  farm,  &c.,  &c.  I 
suppose  you  will  soon  go  berrying,  in 
which  I  would  join  you  if  I  could 
spare  the  time,  but  I  have  too  many 
engagements  to  think  of  being  so  dis- 
sipated.^' 

Her  course  of  active  usefulness  was 
suddenly  checked,  in  January,  1854,  by  a 


184  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

severe  accidental  injury  to  her  left 
wrist.  It  disabled  her  completely  for  a 
time,  but  no  entreaties  could  induce 
her  to  close  her  doors,  and  receive 
from  relatives  those  attentions  which  she 
was  always  ready  to  bestow.  Love  of 
independence,  and  fear  of  giving  trouble, 
which  were  among  her  marked  character- 
istics, forbade  it,  and  rendered  this  period 
of  inaction  a  season  of  peculiar  trial  to 
her.  She,  who  partook  so  largely  of 
that  spirit  of  joyous  enterprise  which 
marks  the  century  with  which  she 
began  her  life,  who  had  found  such 
pleasure  in  conquering  difficulties,  had 
now  in  part  to  succumb,  and  to  prac- 
tice upon  the  latter  half  of  the  quaint 
maxim   quoted   by  Baxter, — 

"  When  thou  art  the  hammer,  knock  thy  fill, 
But  when  thou  art  the  anvil,  lie  thou  still." 


MART     C.     GREBNLEAF.         185 

To  its  spirit  she  conformed  by  uncom- 
plaining, childlike  submission ;  but  had 
no  idea  of  continuing  idle  or  disabled,  so 
long  as  any  measures  of  relief  remained 
untried. 

In  April,  finding  her  wrist  by  no  means 
recovered,  she  was  induced  to  place  herself 
under  the  care  of  Dr.  Hewett,  of  Boston. 
Her  letters  while  there,  furnish  this 
page  of  her  history.  She  writes  under 
date  of  May  2d:— 

"  I  came  two  weeks  since.  I  board  in 
his  house  ;  and  after  several  painful  oper- 
ations, the  bone  seems  to  be  gradually 
returning  to  its  socket ;  and  I  am  encour- 
aged to  hope  for  a  cure.  As  the  arm 
is  splintered,  I  cannot  use  my  needle  at 
all,  but  can  write  a  good  deal.  Placed 
in  new  and  peculiar  circumstances,  1  feel 
the  need  of  Divine    crrace    to    enable    me 


186  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

to  set  a  Christian  example,  and  not  be 
overcome  by  temptation.  Give  me  your 
prayers,  my  dear  cousin,  that  I  may  be 
sustained  and  blessed  in  all  my  ways. 
I  am  able  to  walk  out  every  day, — go  to 
the  prayer-meeting  in  the  Old  South 
chapel  every  morning,  and  occasionally 
attend  some  evening  service  with  my 
valued  friend  Mary  S.,  who  boards  a 
short  distance  from  the  doctor's. 

"  I  often  pay  an  imaginary  visit  to  your 
secluded  abode,  and  wonder  what  you 
are  doing  ;  but  as  Yankees  can  guess  ^  I 
fancy  I  know  pretty  well.  If  aunt  Mary 
Ann  is  with  you,  I  think  her  amiable, 
cheerful  spirit  must  serve  to  gladden  you 
every  day. 

"  Dear  cousin,  how  sweet  it  is  to  notice 
a  Father's  hand  in  all  the  varying  dispen- 
sations of  his  Providence,  and  to  live  upon 
the    precious   promises !    I  trust   you    are 


MAEY     C.     GREENLEAF.  187 


enabled  to  appropriate  to  yourself  these 
cordials  which  belong  to  you.  Do  you 
own  Bogatzky's  Golden  Treasury  ?  It  has 
been  a  great  comfort  to  me  of  late.  I 
hope  to  return  home  in  two  or  three  weeks, 
where  I  shall  remain  probably  all  summer. 
When  you  can  write  as  well  as  not,  I 
should  like  to  receive  a  letter  from  you  ; 
but  you  need  never  feel  obliged  to  answer 
my  poor  scrawls." 


To  her  Newburyport  Correspondent. 

"  April  24:th. — Although  I  have  not 
been  home-sick  since  I  have  been  here, 
yet  it  seemed  a  very  long  time  since  any 
intelligence  had  been  received  from  my 
dear  native  place.  My  situation  here  is 
so  entirely  different  from  any  one  I  ever 
filled  before,  that  I  feel  sometimes  entirely 


188  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

out  of  place.  Yet  as  the  hand  of  Provi- 
dence seemed  to  direct  my  steps  here, 
and  I  have  many  pleasant  things,  I  am 
generally  cheerful,  and  willing  to  be  just 
where  I  am. 

"  Mj  wrist  is  to  be  set  this  afternoon, 
and  as  the  operation  will  be  quite  painful, 
I  have  considerable  dread  of  it ;  but  trust, 
&c.  The  days  pass  rapidly  away.  Yes- 
terday  I   went   with   Miss   S r  to  the 

Episcopal  church,  and  heard  an  excellent 
sermon  from  Dr.  Vinton,  from  '  We  love 
him.'     In   the   afternoon   went  with  Miss 

S 1  to   Dr.   Waterbury's    church,    and 

heard  Professor  Jewett.  Evening,  heard 
Dr.  Duff,  the  celebrated  Scotch  Missionary 
from  India,  in  the  Tremont  temple.  I 
have  seen  several  friends  here,  all  of  whom 
are  very  kind.  I  knit,  sew,  and  read  or 
write  all  the  time.  The  doctor,  his  son, 
and  son-in-law  sometimes  make  us  a  call. 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAP.  189 

The  first  evening  after  my  arrival,  there 
was  a  ivhist  party  in  the  parlor,  to  which 
we  were  all  invited.  I  of  course  declined, 
and  so  did  one  of  the  patients ;  so  we 
passed  the  evening  together  in  our  room. 

"  Dear  M.,  let  not  a  sense  of  sin  ever 
discourage  you.  It  is  one  sure  mark  of 
grace.  '  They  that  be  whole,  have  no 
need  of  the  physician,  but  they  that  are 
sick.'  The  ladies  are  talking,  and  I  run 
on  from  one  thing  to  another,  without 
order.     Give  my  love  to  your  mother  and 

A ,   and  all  who  inquire  for  me.     It 

would  be  impossible  to  name  all ;  but  don't 
forget  all  who  meet  on  Tuesday  evening. 
Good-bye,  till  after  the  operation  is  over. 
You  must  all  pray  for  me,  for  I  never 
needed  your  prayers  more. 

"  Evening,  6  o'clock. — Help  me,  dear 
Mary,  to  praise  the  Lord  for  his  goodness  ; 
the  bone  is  set,   and  my  arm  splintered. 


190  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

with  SO  little  pain,  that  I  could  scarcely 
believe  it,  when  I  opened  my  eyes,  (for 
the  doctor  did  not  wish  me  to  look,)  and 
saw  that  it  was  all  done  up  in  the  nicest 
manner,  with  no  more  pain,  though  of  a 
different  kind,  than  is  occasioned  by  the 
extraction  of  a  tooth.  No  one  was  in  the 
oflEice  but  the  doctor  and  his  son-in-law, 
who  held  my  arm ;  and  I  think  the  whole 
time  spent  in  wetting  the  bandages,  repla- 
cing the  bone,  and  winding  seven  yards  of 
bandage  round  the  splints,  could  not  have 
been  more  than  ten  minutes.  I  certainly 
feel  very  glad  that  I  came,  and  doubt  not 
that  with  the  blessing  of  God,  the  wrist 
will  be  as  well  as  ever.  0  !  may  all  my 
bones  say,  '  Who  is  a  God  like  thee  ?  '  and 
may  my  life  be  wholly  devoted  to  Him, 
who  healeth  all  my  diseases." 

"  May  1st.  —  How     can    I    thank    you 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.         191 

enough,  my  dear  Mary,  for  your  prompt 
attention  to  my  request,  and  for  the  good 
long  letter  which  came  safely  to  hand.  0 ! 
may  you  be  rewarded  a  thousand  fold  for 
all  your  kindness,  and  for  the  constancy  of 
your  attachment,  which  is  often  astonish- 
ing to  me.  Many  times  have  I  wondered 
that  your  sensitive  nature  has  not  shrunk 
away  from  one  who  has  so  much  of  iron 
in  her  as  I  have.  Yet  when  I  have 
wounded  you,  you  have  always  felt  that 
it  was  the  wound  of  a  friend,  and  with 
true  Christian  feeling,  have  not  turned 
away  in  disgust.  If  you  think  you  are 
never  useful  to  any  one,  I  can  assure  you 
you  are  mistaken.  *  *  *  Often,  you 
are  ministering  to  my  comfort  when  you 
do  not  suspect  it.  *  *  *  Ungrateful 
indeed  should  I  be,  not  to  feel  it  sensibly, 
though  I  cannot  express  what  I  would 
like  to. 


192  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

"  Dear  little  Tom !  how  I  miss  his 
pleasant  '  aunt  Mary,'  and  all  his  winning 
ways.  I  am  glad  you  could  have  him  and 
Johnny  together  at  your  house,  for  I  know 
how  much  they  must  have  enjoyed  it.  0  ! 
may  they  both  be  lambs  of  Christ's  fold." 

"  May  '22d. —     *     *     *     j  r^^^-^  j^q^  gj^^^y 

ing  with  Mrs.  C.   B ,  as  she  and  Mr. 

B very  kindly  invited  me  to  pass  the 

remainder  of  my  time  with  them.  I  have 
a  nice  room  to  myself,  and  every  conve- 
nience and  luxury  that  the  most  fastidious 
could  desire.  I  came  on  Saturday,  and 
such  a  sweet  Sabbath  as  I  had  yesterday, — 
it  seemed  'like  a  little  heaven  below' 
0 !  may  I  be  suitably  humble  and  grateful 
under  God's  dealings  with  me,  for  surely 
He  is  continually  blessing  me." 

The  contrast  in  her  situation,  upon  pass- 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAP.  193 

ing  from  a  crowded  boarding  house  to 
the  dear  society  of  Cliristiaii  friends,  was 
very  great.  "It  is  such  a  comfort,"  she 
remarked  to  one  she  loved,  "  to  hear  the 
sound  of  my  own  voice  again  in  prayer." 

"  May  29th. — You  need  not  fear  that 
I  shall  like  Boston  well  enough  to  stay 
longer  than  it  seems  to  be  my  duty.  'Tis 
true  the  Anniversaries  this  week  would 
have  presented  a  strong  temptation  for  me 
to  remain.  Yet  it  is  doubtful  whether  I 
should  have  done  so,  had  the  doctor 
allowed  me  to  return.       *       *      *       * 

"  Employment  is  a  great  blessing.  I 
sew  a  very  little  every  day,  though  my 
hand  is  bandaged  very  tightly  ;  but  I  get 
tired  of  reading,  writing,  and  spinning 
street  yarn. 

"  There  is  a  great  excitement  in  the 
city  with  regard  to  a  fugitive  slave.     One 


194  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

man  was  killed  instantly  on  Friday  even- 
ing. We  hope  God  will  appear,  and  in 
some  way,  overrule  all  to  liis  glory.  The 
military  are  all  out,  and  in  my  walks  I 
dare  not  pass  through  Court  street,  there 
is  such  a  crowd  there.  It  seems  shockina: 
to  have  the  poor  slave  returned  to  his 
master  ;  and  yet  we  are  bound  to  submit 
to  the  laws  of  the  land,  though  some  of 
them  may  be  wicked ;  because,  if  the 
people  may  trample  on  one  law,  they  may 
on  all.  But  we  can  pray  that  our  rulers 
may  repeal  iniquitous  laws."* 

"  Sabbath  noon,  June  \lth. — I  do  not 
often,  my  dear  Mary,  write  on  the  Sab- 
bath,— but  having  just  returned  from  hear- 
ing Dr.  Adams  preach,  I  want  to  tell 
you  a  little  respecting  his  sermon.  He 
has  been  absent  from  his  people  for  three 

*  Appendix,  E. 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  195 

months,  journeying  to  the  South  for  the 
improvement  of  the  health  of  his  wife  ; 
and  returned  last  week.  The  text  was  : 
'  The  Lord  shall  preserve  thy  going  out, 
and  thy  coming  in.'  He  began  by  inquir- 
ing, '  Why  is  it  that  our  losses  and  bereave- 
ments are  always  remembered,  and  our 
mercies  and  blessings  so  soon  forgotten  ? 
The  latter  far  exceed  the  former, — yet 
how  little  feeling  do  they  excite.  A  single 
tree  which  has  been  struck  by  lightning, 
attracts  the  gaze  of  every  beholder ;  while 
the  green  field,  which  months  of  sunshine 
and  rain  have  ripened,  is  overlooked.'  He 
then  went  on  to  speak  of  the  goodness  of 
God  to  the  traveler ;  and  after  specifying 
many  particulars,  said,  to  the  Christian 
the  conviction  was  forced  upon  him  at 
every  step,  '  Thou  God,  seest  me.'  But 
I  can  give  you  no  adequate  conception  of 
the   discourse, — though  I   enjoyed    it  ex- 


196  LIFE    AND    LETTERS 


ceedingly,  and  heartily  respond  to  the 
sentiments ;  for  on  a  small  scale,  I  could 
say,  '  The  Lord  has  preserved  my  going 
out,' — and  I  trust,  ere  long  to  add,  '  and 
my   coming   in.' 

"  I  want  now  to  copy  part  of  a  sermon 
which  I  read    this  morning. 

"  Many  believers,  sincere  enough  in 
their  convictions — sincere  as  an  inactive 
believer  can  be,  but  inclining  more  to 
reverie,  than  to  service;  misled  by  the 
feeling  that  Christian  duty  terminates  in 
self-improvement,  are  mischievously  dis- 
appointed, and  degenerate  into  complain- 
ing, self-absorbed,  peevish  religionists. 
None  of  us  are  appointed  to  walk  to 
heaven  alone.  And  it  is  doubtful  if  any 
of  us  will  reach  the  gate,  who  do  not 
help  some  other  soul  thither.  If  you  have 
never,  in  all  your  life,  helped  any  lame 
spirit  to  go  forward  joyfully  '  walking  and 


MAEY     C.      GREENLEAP.  197 

leaping,  and  praising  God,'  throngh  any  gate 
Beautiful ;  you  are  already  palsied  yourself. 

"  With  these  sentiments  I  fully  agree  ; 
although  some  parts  of  the  sermon  are 
erroneous.  We  must  serve  Christ,  to 
prove  that  we   luve  him. 

"  *  *  *  *  I  just  now  recollect 
a  little  more  of  Dr.  Adams'  sermon. 
'  Have  you  not,  my  hearers,  often  devoted 
an  hour  to  the  luxury  of  grief,  recollecting 
all  the  circumstances  of  a  bereavement, 
and  dwelling  upon  them  till  you  had 
pierced  your  heart  with  a  sharp  thorn  ? 
Should  you  not  also  devote  set  times  to 
tlie  recollection  of  the  blessings  God  has 
bestowed  upon  you,  till  you  felt  that  the 
goodness  of  God,  no  less  than  his  great- 
ness, was  unsearchable  ? ' 

"  The  first  Psalm  sung  was  the  eighty- 
fourth,  C.  M.,  beginning  at  the  pause. 
The    last    verse    sent    a    peculiar     thrill 


198  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

through  my  heart,  as  it  was  one  my  dear 
mother  often   repeated  : — 

'  Could  I  command  the  spacious  land, 
Or  the  more  boundless  sea ; 
For  one  blest  hour  at  thy  right  hand, 
I'd  give  them  both  away.' 

"  The  other  was  the  one  hundred  and 
twenty-first  Psalm ;  '  Upward  I  lift  my 
eyes.'  Though  I  enjoyed  the  services  very 
much,  I  found  my  thoughts  wandering  to 
our  church  in  Newburyport ;  and  I  felt 
how  good  it  would  be  to  hear  Mr.  Ver- 
milye  to-day^  and  sit  with  old  friends  in 
the  old  house. 

"  Thank  you  for  telling  me  respecting 
the  Wednesday  evening  lecture.  You  can 
never  know  whether  you  are  chosen,  but 
by  finding  out  what  is  the  first  wish  of 
your  heart, — whether  it  is  to  be  holy  like 
Christ,  and  to  be  with  him  hereafter.     A 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  199 

sense  of  sin  is  one  evidence  of  grace, — for 
we  must  know  that  we  are  deeply,  thor- 
ough! j  diseased,  in  order  to  value  the 
Great  Physician ;  and  it  is  the  Spirit  that 
convinces  of  sin.  We  should  he  willing 
to  have  our  spiritual  maladies  healed,  even 
though  sharp  discipline  must  be  the  means. 

"  You  need  not  fear  that  I  shall  take 
up  my  abode  in  Boston, — no, — I  have  no 
idea  of  it.  On  the  contrary  I  should  be 
glad  to  go  home  to-day,  did  it  not  appear 
to  be  my  duty  to  stay. 

"  "With  love  to  Alice,  tell  her  Christ  is 
her  pattern, — and  if  she  takes  any  one  else, 
no  wonder  she  is  no  better.     Kiss  Johnny 

0 for  me,  and  tell  him  now  he  has 

a  little   sister,  he  must  be    a  very  good 
boy,  so  as  to  set  her  an  example. 

"  Is  any  one  coming  to  the  church  ?   I 
shall  be  with  you  in  spirit  next  Sabbath. 
"  Yours,  &c." 


200  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

TO     THE    SAME. 

"  I  have  not  attended  the  morning 
meetings  the  last  week,  though  Mrs.  B. 
wished  me  to  do  so,  because  I  thought  it 
was  more  my  duty  to  be  helping  her 
under  her  numerous  cares  at  that  hour. 
Surely  it  is  a  small  part  to  enjoy  a  com- 
munion season.  We  should  let  our  light 
shine  afterwards.  So  it  is,  my  dear  Mary, 
— In  and  hy  ourselves^  we  can  never  stand, 
— but  in  the  Beloved  we  are  accepted, — 
and  when  swarms  of  worldly  and  unholy 
thoughts  assail  us,  and  we  seem  ready  to 
be  swallowed  up,  we  may  call  to  our  aid 
the  mighty  Spirit  of  God,  and  may  obtain 
the  victory  through  Christ. 

"  I  thought  of  you  this  morning  when 
you  were,  as  I  suppose,  preparing  for 
Sabbath  school.  I  hope  you  w-ere  enabled 
to  enjoy  sowing  good  seed  in  the  hearts 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.         201 

of  your  scholars,  though  the  soil  may  seem 
hard  and  unpromising.  In  God's  good 
time  it  will  spring  up, — for  '  blessed  are 
they  that  sow  beside  all  waters.'  " 

This  providence,  seemingly  so  adverse, 
proved  the  means  of  exercising  and  exhib- 
iting in  Miss  Greenleaf  the  graces  of  meek- 
ness and  patience.  It  probably  drove  her 
more  frequently  to  the  throne  of  grace, 
as  did  a  former  one,  of  whose  effect  she 
thus  makes  mention  in  a  private  record : 

"  It  led  me  to  self-examination,  and  to 
more  earnest  prayer,  for  I  had  become  too 
formal,  and  prayed  too  little,  and  only 
twice  a  day.  I  was  then  stirred  up  to 
more  frequent  approaches  to  the  throne  of 
grace.  The  Word  of  God  was  more  pre- 
.cious,  and  I  hope  the  rod  will  'bud  and 
blossom,    and   bring   forth    fruit'    as    did 


202  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

Aaron's,   and   as    my   dear  mother   often 
prayed  that  her's  might.'  " 

This  "  rod  "  was  not  alone  disciplinary  ; 
it  was  also  indulgent,  as  that  of  the  Shep- 
herd. By  taking  her  from  her  home  for  a 
season,  it  gave  her  to  see,  do,  and  enjoy 
much  which  would  have  been  otherwise 
unknown  to  her.  This  she  fully  appre- 
ciated, dwelling  in  her  letters  and  conver- 
sation upon  all  that  was  agreeable,  ignoring 
what  at  the  time  was  trying, — even  dis- 
tressful. 

Amid  these  novelties,  came  to  her  heart, 
the  memory  of  her  mother's  departing 
hour.  Never  did  its  annual  return  fail 
to  elicit  a  tender  tribute  from  her  pen. 
She  writes.  May  15th. 

"  Yesterday  was  spent  by  me  very  differ- 
ently   from    the    15th  of  May,  1851,  that 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.         203 

memorable  day  to  me.  Yet  I  would  not 
recall  my  sainted  mother,  nor  wish  her 
again  to  be  an  inhabitant  of  this  wicked 
world.  If  she  now  watches  over  her  child, 
and  I  sometimes  think  she  does,  does  she 
not  want  me  to  quicken  my  steps  heaven- 
ward ?  And  does  she  not  realize  how  soon, 
through  Infinite  grace,  we  shall  be  re- 
united ? " 

She  returned  home  July  22d,  to  fill 
for  two  more  years  her  accustomed 
place  in  the  church,  the  Sabbath  school, 
the  Teacher's  meeting,  and  all  her  favorite 
resorts.  Then  the  steady  flame  of  love 
and  pity  for  those  "  that  sit  in  darkness, 
and  the  shadow  of  death,"  burned  higher 
and  hotter  within  her,  and  she  went  forth 
to  teach  the  Indian  youth  the  way  to 
heaven. 


204  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

To  Rev.  A.  G.  Vermilye. 

[Confidential.] 

''Mount  Rural,  March  18th,  1856. 
"  My  dear  Pastor, 

"  I  want  to  Lave  a  little  free  com- 
munication with  jon,  and  take  the  liberty 
to  address  you  in  this  way,  not  doubting 
that  you  will  excuse  me.  You  will  prob- 
ably be  surprised  when  I  ask  you,  what 
should  you  think  of  my  offering  myself 
to  the  Board  of  Missions  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian church  as  a  teacher,  or  assistant 
teaclier,  at  some  one  of  their  stations 
among  the  Indians  of  our  own  country  ? 
Would  you  think  it  the  most  absurd  idea 
that  coidd  ever  enter  my  head  ?  Perhaps 
so, — yet,  as  in  the  early  years  of  my 
Christian  course,  my  mind  was  long  exer- 
cised upon  this  point,  and  as  I  did  once 
solemnly  consecrate  myself  to  the  service 


MAEY     C.     GREENLEAP.  205 


of  Christ  among  the  heathen,  provided 
he  would  accept  me,  and  open  the  way 
in  liis  Providence  for  me  to  go  ;  although 
for  more  than  thirty  years  after,  it  seemed 
an  imperious  duty  for  me  to  remain  at 
home,  and  take  care  of  my  aged  parents, 
doing  what  I  could  for  souls  here,  and 
promoting  the  Missionary  cause  in  other 
ways.  I  have  recently  thought  that  possi- 
bly I  might  do  more  for  the  cause  of 
Christ,  by  devoting  a  few  years  to  the 
labors  and  sacrifices  which  are  inseparable 
from  Missionary  life.  For  the  last  year, 
particularly,  I  have  felt  that  I  am  not 
so  useful  as  I  might  and  ought  to  be. 
A  large  proportion  of  my  time  is  spent  in 
secular  concerns,  just  to  obtain  a  temporal 
support ;  and  I  have  often  wished  that  I 
could  employ  myself  more  directly  for  the 
welfare  of  my  fellow  creatures.  In  reading 
the   '  Record '   for  this   month,  I   noticed 


206  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

their  appeal  for  female  helpers  in  the 
schools  among  the  Indians,  which  awak- 
ened in  me  an  earnest  desire  to  give 
myself  up  to  the  service  of  Christ  in  this 
way.  But  I  supposed  I  sliould  be  con- 
sidered quite  too  old  to  be  thus  employed, 
were  I  qualified  in  other  respects.  But 
after  a  prayerful  consideration  of  the  sub- 
ject, I  wrote  to  one  of  the  Secretaries, 
just  to  inquire  if  a  person  fifty-six  years 
old  would  be  considered  too  far  advanced 
in  years  to  be  employed  by  the  Board.  I 
said  in  my  letter  that  I  wrote  in  behalf 
of  a  member  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
church  in  Newburyport ;  and  spoke  of  her 
in  the  third  person,  so  that  they  might 
speak  more  freely  tlian  if  I  had  let  them 
know  that  it  was  myself.  The  only  quali- 
fications I  mentioned  as  possessed  by  the 
individual,  were  a  strong  constitution, 
uniform  health,  a  willingness  to  '  endure 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.         207 

hardship  as  a  good  soldier  of  Christ,'  and 
ability  to  teach  the  common  branches  of 
education.  I  enclose  the  answer  I  received 
this  morning.  It  was  quite  unexpected 
to  me  to  have  an  interview  requested.  I 
supposed  they  would  hardly  give  it  a 
thought.  But  now,  what  shall  I  do  ?  I 
cannot  conscientiously  dismiss  the  subject, 
without  earnestly  asking  wisdom  from  on 
high,  and  the  advice  of  my  pastor.  Shall 
I  still  remain  here,  amidst  a  luxury  of 
religious  privileges,  where  there  are  so 
many  laborers  ?  Or  shall  '  the  love  of 
Christ  constrain  me '  to  forsake  these 
delightful  privileges,  to  separate  myself 
for  a  few  years  from  the  church  with 
which  I  expected  to  live  and  die ;  to  leave 
my  beloved  pastor  and  other  friends,  if 
perhaps,  some  Indian  child  or  adult  may 
be  directed  to  the  Saviour  of  the  lost,  and 
thus   greater  glory  redound  to  his  name  ? 


208  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

I  can  think  of  many  objections, — my  unfit- 
ness for  the  work,  &c.  ;  and  some  reasons 
on  the  other  side, — and  probably  you  will 
think  of  others  on  both  sides.  "Will  you, 
dear  sir,  give  the  whole  subject  your  seri- 
ous attention  ;  and  I  will  endeavor  to  call 
down  on  Thursday  morning  to  talk  it  over. 
I  wish  it  to  be  kept  a  profound  secret  at 
present, — but  I  must  decide  by  Friday, 
about  going  to  New  York,  so  as  to  write 
on  that  day.  Even  if  I  should  think  it 
best  to  go  on,  the  interview  then  might 
only  result  in  an  abandonment  of  the 
subject  altogether  ;  so  that  it  will  be  best 
to  say  nothing  about  it.  And  I  must 
especially  request  that  you  and  Mrs.  Ver- 
milye  will  not  mention  it  to  any  one. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  intrude  so  much  on 
your  time,  and  will  do  so  no  farther, 
except  to  subscribe  myself 

"  Your  obliged  friend,    M.  C.   G." 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  209 

She  writes  to  her  sister,  "  I  then  went 
to  my  esteemed  pastor,  hardly  expecting 
that  he  would  think  at  all  favorably  of  it. 
But  he  treated  it  with  the  greatest  kindness 
and  consideration  ;  and  though  he  said  he 
could  neither  advise,  nor  decide  for  me, 
yet  he  thought  there  were  more  reasons 
for  my  going  than  the  contrary.  He  gave 
me  a  letter  to  the  Secretaries  in  New  York, 
and  such  directions  that  I  could  find  my 
way.  The  result  was,  that  the  three 
Secretaries  were  unanimous  in  wishing 
me  to  go  ;  but  I  told  them  I  should  decide 
upon  nothing  till  after  my  return  home. 
I  was  detained  a  week  in  Boston,"  (by  the 
sudden  death  of  the  daughter  of  the  friend 
at  whose  house  she  stopped),   "  and  then 

came  home  to  hear  objections.     Mrs. 

was  the  hardest  to  leave,  and  for  a  time  I 
felt  that  I  would  give  it  up  on  her  account. 
But   my   conscience   would    not    let   me ; 


210  LIFE     AND     LETTEKS 

my  obligations  to  Christ  were  far  greater 
than  to  her, — and  after  a  week  of  conflict , 
the  path  of  duty  seemed  so  plain  that  I 
have  offered  myself  to  the  Board,  and  am 
now  preparing  to  go.  With  all  the  oppo- 
sition, I  have  had  great  encouragement 
from  some  of  the  most  judicious  and 
excellent  Christian  friends,  such  as  uncle 

Dana,  Mrs.   C ,  Mrs.   S ,  Mr.  and 

Mrs.   Yermilye,   Miss   B ,   and    many 

others.  And  if  I  could  only  see  you,  I 
could  tell  you  of  many  Providences  which 
seem  clearly  to  point  out  my  duty. 
Whether  I  can  endure  the  Western  climate 
remains  to  be  seen.     If  not,  I  can  return 

at   any  time.     Now  dear    C ,   if  you 

were  only  well,  I  should  want  you  to 
go  too." 

With  reference  to  her  trip  to  New  York, 
she  writes  to  a  friend  in  Newburyport,  to 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  211 

whom  she   felt  under   deep  and  peculiar 
oblio-alions. 


"  I  had  a  delightful  time,  though  I  went 
alone.  I  found  no  difficulty  in  getting 
along.  I  staid  at  the  house  of  a  returned 
missionary,  who  seemed  to  be  one  of  '  the 
excellent  of  the  earth,'  as  did  also  his  wife. 
I  made  also  the  acquaintance  of  the  other 
Secretaries  of  the  Foreign  Mission  Board  ; 
called  at  Dr.  Vermilye's,  and  saw  a  good 
deal  of  the  great  city.  Possibly  as  the 
result  of  this  visit,  you  may  be  called  to 
make  a  little  sacrifice  for  tlie  cause  of 
Christ,  as  well  as  I, — but  I  trust  that 
cause  is  far  dearer  to  our  hearts  than  any 
other  interest,  and  we  shall  have  grace 
to  do  all  that  the  hand  of  Providence 
directs." 

While    staying    at    the    house    of    Dr. 


212  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

Wilson,  in  New  York,  the  conversation 
turned  one  evening  upon  the  subject  of 
her  future  course.  Dr.  Wilson  asked  her 
if  she  supposed  that  she  could  encounter 
all  the  difficulties  to  which,  as  a  Missionary, 
she  might  be  subjected  ?  She  thought  that 
she  could.  "  Could  you  ford  a  creek,  or 
stream,  on  horseback  ?  "  he  asked.  This 
was  an  obstacle  quite  new  and  unexpected. 
She  had  never  mounted  a  horse,  and 
reflecting  a  little,  she  thought  that  if 
already  on  her  way  to  the  Mission  station, 
her  courage  might  fail  at  the  moment  of 
reaching  the  water's  edge,  and  she  be 
obliged,  even  then,  to  turn  back.  She 
replied  "that  she  did  not  think  she  could." 
Dr.  Wilson  smiled,  and  the  subject  was 
dropped.  She  could  not  decide  from  his 
manner,  whether  he  was  in  jest  or  earnest ; 
but  she  was  perplexed  by  the  point  raised. 
It  fastened   upon  her  mind,  and  was  her 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  213 

last  thought  before  closing  her  eyes  in 
sleep,  her  first  upon  awaking.  She  went 
down  to  breakfast  with  the  doubt  still 
un-resolved. 

Slie  had  thought  of  presenting  to  Mrs. 
Wilson  the  Memoir  of  her  mother,  and 
took  it  in  her  hand.  As  she  was  the  first 
in  the  breakfast  room,  while  waiting,  she 
opened  the  book  at  random  at  the  one 
hundred  and  sixty-second  page,  and  her 
eye  fell  upon  the  passage  quoted  from 
Isaiah,  forty-third  chapter,  second  verse. 
"  When  thou  passeth  through  the  waters, 
I  will  be  with  thee,  and  through  the 
rivers,  they  shall  not  overflow  thee."  Her 
relief,  and  resolution  to  appropriate  that 
wondrous  promise,  were  instantaneous. 
When  she  told  Dr.  Wilson  her  decision, 
he  stated  to  her  that  it  would  not  probably 
be  necessary  for  her  to  ford  a  stream  before 
arriving  at  Wapanucka  ;  but  that  should 


214  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

she  remain  for  some  years  in  the  Indian 
Territory,  and  wish  to  visit  other  stations, 
she  might  find  it  needful  to  do  so. 

The  impression  her  visit  left  npon  tlie 
mind  of  the  Secretaries,  may  be  inferred 
from  a  private  letter  of  Hon.  Walter 
Lowrie.     He  says : — 

"  When  she  visited  us  first,  I  had  one 
pleasant  interview  with  her,  and  was  then 
fully  satisfied  that  she  would  be  eminently 
useful  in  forming  the  character  of  the 
untaught,  but  most  interesting  young 
females  of  that  tribe.  In  her  our  expecta- 
tions were  more  than  realized,  and  we 
thank  God  for  the  good  she  has  done." 

He  alludes  in  passing,  to  one  of  tbe 
most  agreeable  of  the  Indian  traits.  "  They 
never  forget  a  kindness  ;  it  may  be  called 
the  instinct  of  their  race." 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAP.  215 

Asking  of  long  tried  and  revered  friends 
their  counsel  with  regard  to  taking  the 
contemplated,  step,  she  writes : — 

"  Early  in  my  Christian  course,  my 
mind  was  much  exercised  respecting  giv- 
ing myself  to  the  work  of  missions  among 
our  Indians, — and  under  a  very  stirring 
appeal,  read  by  Mr.  Williams  in  our  old 
cliapcl,  I  did  silently  consecrate  myself 
to  tliis  work,  if  God  in  his  Providence 
should  ever  open  the  way. 

"  When  my  precious  mother  and  brother 
wore  taken  from  me,  I  thought  of  my 
early  consecration.  *  *  *  At  present 
I  am  entirely  uncommitted, — and  am 
earnestly  seeking  Divine  direction.  I  wish 
also  to  hear  from  my  friends  all  the  ob- 
jections to  the  proposed  important  under- 
taking. To  you,  my  dear  and  valued 
friends,  I  look,  trusting  you  will  give  the 


216  LIFE    AND    LETTEES 

subject  a  candid  and  prayerful  considera- 
tion. Probably,  at  first  it  will  seem  vision- 
ary and  impracticable,  but  afterward  you 
may  view  it  differently.  I  have  put  down 
the  reasons  on  both  sides,  which  I  enclose. 
You  will  please  return  them  to  me  in 
a  day  or  two,  and  I  hope  for  an  oppor- 
tunity to  converse  with  you  on  the  subject 
soon." 

Her  "  reasons,"  we  quote  from  the  Ser- 
mon of  E,ev.  Mr.  Vermilye.  "  1st.  The 
early  consecration  of  myself  to  this  work, 
in  secret  silence  of  the  mind  ;  '  thy  vows 
are  upon  me,  0  God,' — '  pay  that  thou 
hast  vowed.'  2d.  My  strong  constitution, 
good  health,  and  willingness  to  labor  in 
any  way  whereby  the  cause  of  Christ  may 
be  promoted.  3d.  Greater  usefulness ; 
the  most  of  my  time  being  taken  up  with 
secular  concerns,  incumbent  for  my  liveli- 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  217 

hood,  with  no  prospect  of  being  free  from 
this  necessity.  4th.  No  family  ties  to  sun- 
der by  going  away.  5th.  In  a  church  of 
over  three  hundred  and  fifty  members, 
sliould  not  several  give  themselves  to  mis- 
sionary labors  ;  especially  those  who  have 
no  wealth  to  bestow  ?  6th.  A  greater 
interest  in  missions  might  be  awakened 
in  the  church,  and  others,  perhaps,  be 
induced  to  go.  7th.  My  friends  in  otiier 
places  might  have  their  interest  in  mis- 
sions increased.  8th.  Encouragements ; 
the  command  of  Christ,  '  go  ye  into  all 
the  world,'  &c. ;  the  promise  1  Cor.  1 : 
27—29,  '  God  hath  chosen  the  foolish 
things  of  the  world  to  confound  the  wise,' 
&c.  ;  '  as  thy  day  is,  so  shall  thy  strength 
be.'  Moreover,  the  engagement  to  stay  is 
but  for  three  years,  should  it  seem  desir- 
able to  return." 


218  LIFE     AND      LETTEES 

The  objections,  she  thus  states :  "1st 
My  advanced  age  ;  my  health  might  fail 
in  another  climate.  2d.  The  interests  of 
the  church  at  home  might  suifer.  My 
position  here  is  useful,  and  this  year  in 
particular,  there  are  special  duties  to  be 
performed.  The  low  standard  of  piety 
among  us  seems,  also,  to  require  the 
presence  and  influence  of  those  who  en- 
tered the  church,  in  a  day  wlien  there 
was  less  worldliness,  and  more  spirituality; 
and  I  may  be  rushing  out  of  the  sphere 
where  Providence  has  placed  me.  It  was 
here  my  sainted  mother  lived  and  labored  ; 
and  I  may  tread  in  her  steps,  if  grace 
be  earnestly  sought.  3d.  Am  I  sufficiently 
qualified  for  missionary  labor,  in  this 
to  me  untried  sphere  ?  4th.  The  oppo- 
sition of  some  friends." 

To   her  friend  Mrs.   B ,  of  Boston, 


MART     C.     GEEENLEAP.  219 

then    in    peculiarly    deep    affliction,    she 
writes,  under  date  of  April  10th  : — 

"  My  dear  afflicted  Friend, 

"  Your  kind  note  of  the  8th,  enclos- 
ing a  noble  present,  I  received  yesterday 
morning.  I  know  not  how  to  express 
my  grateful  emotions.  I  can  only  say, 
may  the  Lord  reward  you  ahundantly  for 
this  unexpected  *  token  of  love.'  The 
little  I  was  permitted  to  do  for  you  in 
your  season  of  deep  sorrow,  was  all  for 
love,  and  not  for  money.  Yet  I  would 
not  hurt  your  feelings  so  much  as  to 
refuse  what  you  have  so  kindly  and  deli- 
cately sent  me. 

"  My  thoughts  are  with  you  a  great 
deal,  and  God  forbid  that  I  should  cease 
to  remember  you  and  yours  in  my  poor 
petitions  every  day.  I  firmly  believe  that 
great  spiritual  blessings  will  be  experienced 


220  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

by  all  of  you,  in  consequence  of  this  sore 
bereavement. 

"  My  dear  friend,  look  up  to  your  sym- 
pathizing High  Priest,  and  believe  that 
he  is  constantly  interceding  in  your  behalf, 
and  feels  for  you  in  all  your  grief.  '  In 
all  our  afflictions  He  is  afflicted ;  *  and 
if  there  were  not  a  '  needs  he^  Tor  them 
all.  He  would  never  send  them.  Do  we 
not  learn  lessons  in  such  seasons  that  we 
never  should  in  prosperity  ?  Do  we  not 
feel  how  empty  are  all  worldly  joys, — 
how  unsatisfactory  its  pursuits  ?  Are  we 
not  reminded  that  sin  is  the  cause  of  all 
our  sufferings,  and  that  the  fruit  of  them 
should  be  to  make  us  more  vigilant  in 
our  warfare  against  this  foe,  which  in  the 
best,  is  only  partially  overcome  ?  And  do 
we  not  find  that  the  Lord  is  good,  a  strong 
hold   in   the  day    of  trouble  ?  '     'As   one 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAP.         221 

whom  his  mother  comforteth,  so  does  he 
comfort  us.' 

"  *  *  *  *  I  have  not  quite  come 
to  a  decision  respecting  my  future  life, 
but  so  far  as  I  can  understand  the  leadings 
of  Providence,  I  think  it  is  his  will  that 
I  should  go.  I  have  encountered  some 
opposition,  but  generally,  have  had  more 
encouragement  than  I  expected, — and  have 
received    from    friends    many    substantial 

tokens  of  their  interest.     Mrs.  S and 

Mrs.   C ,  both  approve  of  it,  and  say 

if  they  were  young  and  well,  they  would 

be   glad   to   go   too.     Cousin  E does 

not  approve  of  it;  thinking  I  am  needed 
here  ;  but  in  a  church  of  three  hundred 
and  fifty  members,  it  seems  to  me  we 
are  sacredly  bound  to  send  one  at  least ; 
and  my  desire  to  go  has  been  for  years 
like  '  a  fire  shut  up  in  my  bones.'  But 
I    have    waited   for  Providence    to    open 


222  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

the  way,   which   it   seems  to  me   he  now 
does." 


The  opposition  to  wliich  she  alludes, 
was  probably  stronger  than  she  anticipated, 
and  impinged  vipon  her  sensitiveness  ; — a 
woman-trait,  which  though  not  suspected, 
by  most  of  her  friends,  went  with  her 
through  life.  It  was  this,  that  in  her 
childhood  cost  her  hours  of  weeping,  both 
in  and  after  school,  on  account  of  the 
slight  punishment  she  incurred  while 
there. 

Many  among  her  friends  thought  that 
in  leaving  a  position  of  so  much  useful- 
ness, at  her  age,  she  was  departing  from 
her  appropriate  sphere.  And  there  was 
one,  between  whom  and  her  mother,  there 
was  a  tacit  agreement  that  she  was  to 
watch  over  and  care  for  Mary.  Fulfilling 
this     sacred    trust,   responding    to    every 


MAEY     C.     GREENLEAF.         223 

claim  upon  her  hand  and  heart,  she  had 
come  to  rely  in  her  turn  upon  the  daugh- 
ter ;  and  the  sudden  wrenching  of  this 
delicate,  yet  strong  tie,  was  exquisitely 
painful.  More  than  one  looked  to  her 
as  the  future  companion  and  consoler 
of  their  latest  hours. 

The  objections  and  dissuasions  of  so 
many  friends,  urgent  in  proportion  to  the 
warmth  of  their  attachment  to  her,  caused 
her  week  of  suspense  to  be  one  of  severe 
trial ; — more  severe  than  her  letters  indi- 
cate. At  this  time,  as  in  1854,  in  writing 
to  friends,  she  glides  over  all  that  was 
painful,  and  dwells  chiefly  upon  the  more 
bright  and  cheerful  aspect  of  her  affairs. 
This  exhibits  one  of  her  strongly  marked, 
and  inherited  traits.  Among  the  encour- 
aging words  spoken,  a  remark  made  by 
her  aunt  Prout,  was  peculiarly  inspiriting 


224  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

to   her :    "  Marj,   if  your    mother    could 
speak,  she  would  say  '  go.'  " 

With  the  final  decision  came  peace. 
Her  friends  finding  her  not  to  be  per- 
suaded, "  ceased,  saying,  the  will  of  the 
Lord  be  done."  She  says  to  her  sister : 
"  Since  His  hand  has  opened  the  way 
for  me  to  go  now,  I  gladly  follow  where 
He  leads,  willing  to  make  sacrifices  for 
Him  who  gave  his  life  for  us." 

She  now  hastens  to  make  the  requisite 
arrangements  for  her  departure,  adjusting 
all  her  temporal  aifairs,  as  if  she  knew 
she  should  never  more  return,  and  select- 
ing little  tokens  of  affection  for  relatives 
present  and  absent.  To  several  friends, 
she  expressed  feelings  of  sadness  at  what 
she  feared  would  be  her  final  earthly 
parting  with  her  aged  relative,  Dr.  Dana. 
It  proved  so  indeed.  Yet  his  hoary  head 
is  still  seen  each  Sabbath  in  the  Sanctuary, 


MAEY     C.     GREENLEAF.  225 

while  some  tresses  of  her  soft  brown  hair, 
unmingled  with  a  thread  of  silver,  are 
all  that  have  come  back  to  us  of  what  was 
so  lately  instinct  with  life  !  Cheerfully  she 
bids  adieu  to  friends,  while  they  are  in 
tears.     She   goes   to   Boston,  stays  a   few 

days    with   her    friend    Mrs.    B ,    and 

visits   for   the   last   time   her   early   loved 

companion.  Miss  Mary  S .     She  calls 

to  see  a  relative  at  Dr.  Hewett's  boarding 
place.  To  each  member  of  the  family, 
where  she  formerly  boarded,  she  speaks 
some  word  to  be  remembered.     She  hopes 

S S "  will   be   a   good   girl,  and 

love  the  Saviour."  She  takes  leave  of 
her  kinswoman  at  the  head  of  the  stairs, 
evidently  preferring  to  have  her  interview 
with  the  Dr.  alone.  We  can  guess  her 
errand.  She  had  already  said,  (and  it  had 
come  to  his  ears),  that  she  should  always 
remember  him  in  her  daily  prayers  as  loug 


226  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

as  he  or  she  lived.  "  How  can  I  help  it," 
slie  said,  "  ■when  he  has  done  so  much 
for  me  ? " 

Her  friend  Mrs.  B ,  goes  out  svith 

her  to  the  carriage  which  conveys  her 
to  the  depot,  watches  it  out  of  sight,  and 
as  she  re-enters  her  vine-embowered  door, 
consoles  herself  with  this  reflection,  "  three 
years, — how  soon  they  will  glide  away, — 
and  I  shall  see  her  again." 

Mark  the  tone  of  her  letters  from  the 
moment  when  she  stands  fully  committed 
to  her  cliosen  and  loved  work.  They  are 
tlie  free,  joyous  utterances  of  a  glad  and 
trusting  spirit.  Take  the  following  ex- 
tracts : — 


MARY     C.     GREET  LEAF.  227 

To  Mrs.  J.  N.  C. 

"  Boston,  May  23c?,  1856. 

"  I  look  forward  to  the  long  journey 
without  any  apprehension,  knowuig  that 
God  is  everywhere,  and  can  protect  us 
in  the  midst  of  the  greatest  dangers.  The 
thirty-sixth  Psalm  in  Watts,  beginni)ig, 
'  High  in  the  heavens,  Eternal  God,'  has 
often  been  a  great  comfort  to  me,  when 
about  to  travel.     Please  read  it. 

"  I  have  had  a  very  pleasant  week  in 
Boston, — have  seen  many  Christian  friends, 
all  of  whom  speak  words  of  encouragement 
respecting  my  Missionary  work.  I  go  to 
the  morning  meeting  daily,  which  I  enjoy 
very  much.  Went  to  Mount  Auburn  yes- 
terday  with    Mrs.   B ,  whose  heart  is 

still  full  of  grief  for  her  deceased  daughter. 

"  As   I  wanted  to  settle  all  my  affairs 


228  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

before  leaving  this  part  of  the  country,  1 
sent  to  New  York  for  fifty  dollars,  which 
I  received  safely,  and  forwarded  to  Mr. 
Pritchard,  as  my  subscription  for  the 
repairs  of  the  church.  Hope  all  things 
go  on  well  with  regard  to  it.  I  would 
rather  give  another  fifty  than  have  it  lag. 
But  I  trust  there  is  enterprise  and  Christian 
zeal  enough  to  carry  it  forward. 

"  I  think  much  of  you,  and  all  the  dear 
friends  in  Newburyport,  and  their  kind- 
ness and  parting  gifts  have  only  bound 
me  to  them  more  closely.  Yet  as  I  am 
satisfied  that  my  Master  calls  me  to  labor 
in  another  part  of  his  vineyard,  for  a 
season,  I  go  cheerfully  at  his  bidding ; 
relying  upon  his  grace  to  enable  mc  to  be 
faithful." 


MARY     C.     GREBNLKAF.  229 


To  HER  Sister. 

"  Boston,  May  26th,  Monday  morn. 
"  I  expect  to  leave  for  New  York  this 
afternoon,  and  start  from  thence  on  Wed- 
nesday. I  am  in  good  health  and  spirits, 
not  doubting  that  the  same  kind  Father, 
who  has  always  taken  care  of  me,  will 
still  protect  and  bless  me.  And  if  he  has 
any  work  for  me  to  do  among  the  Indians, 
he  will  spare  me  to  do  it.  '  We  are 
immortal  till  our  work  is  done.'  When 
it  is  done,  we  shall  be  called  away  ;  and 
I  have  no  anxiety  respecting  that,  leaving 
it  all  in  his  hands,  who  has  the  keys  of 
death, — and  who  will  love  me  to  the  end. 
Could  I  talk  over  all  the  exercises  of  my 
mind  on  this  subject,  and  all  the  provi- 
dential openings  with  regard  to  this  Mis- 
sionary work,  I  think  your  faith  would 
be  stronger. 

16 


230  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

"  I  have  been  abundantly  supplied  with 
clothing  by  my  friends,  and  only  want  a 
more  grateful  and  luimble  heart,  which 
you  will  ask  God  to  bestow, — won't  you  ?  " 

Under  date  of  May  28th,  she  writes 
from  New  York,  to  Mrs.  C -. 

"  I  arrived  here  safely  yesterday  morn- 
ing. After  breakfast  I  called  at  Dr.  Yer- 
milye's, — went  into  the  General  Assembly 
for  two  hours, — there  met  Mr.  Caldwell 
from  San  Francisco,  and  had  a  pleasant 
interview.  I  expect  to  start  for  Philadel- 
phia tomorrow  morning.  There  I  meet 
Miss  Morrison,  who  returns  to  the  Mission- 
ary work  ;  and  at  Pittsburg  a  young  man 
is  to  join  us,  who  goes  out  as  teacher. 
These  are  the  only  two  they  could  hnd 
at  present,  and  I  am  more  glad  than  ever 
I  have  concluded    to  go.     If  you  do  not 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.         231 

hear  of  mj  arrival  for  seven  weeks,  you 
must  not  be  anxious.  The  Lord  will  pro- 
tect me,  and  order  all  things  for  the  best. 
'  Goodness  and  mercy  have  followed  me,' 
every  step  of  the  way  since  I  parted  from 
you,  my  dear  friend,  and  I  think  it  would 
be  unbelief  to  distrust  the  care  of  the 
'  Keeper  of  Israel.'  My  health  is  excellent, 
and  of  course  so  are  my  spirits. 

"  Mr.  and  Mrs.  B and  their  family 

were  most  abundant  in  their  kindness  to 
me, — giving  me  many  articles  ;  among  the 
rest  an  air  pillow,  to  use  in  the  springless 
wagons.     Love  to  all^ 

The  kind  interest  taken  in  her  by  the 
Secretaries  at  New  York,  and  their  fami- 
lies, must  have  been  singularly  grateful 
to  her  feelings,  during  that  trying  inter- 
mediate time  between  the  sundering  of 
old  tics  and  associations,  and  the  forming 


232  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

of  new.  The  tokens  of  their  regard  which 
she  took  with  her,  and  the  easy  tone  of 
the  letters  which  passed  between  herself 
and  the  Mission  House,  show  that  her 
character  was  well  understood  and  appre- 
ciated. 

Among  the  papers  left  in  Miss  Green- 
leaf's  writing-desk,  is  a  note  from  a  grieved 
mother,  entreating  her  prayers  for  an 
erring  and  intemperate  son. 

In  the  church  of  which  she  was  a  mem- 
ber, no  one  has  yet  come  forward  to  take 
her  place.  "  What  are  the  things,"  said 
a  young  lady  belonging  to  it,  "  which  Miss 
Greenleaf  did,  and  we  do  not  ?  "  "  They 
are  so  many,"  replied  her  elder  friend, 
"  that  I  cannot  begin  to  tell  you." 

It  has  been  very  refreshing  to  go  in 
quest  of  letters  and  little  items  concerning 
her.  Her  name  has  been  a  pass-word  to 
the   interior   of    many   a   sweet   Christian 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAP.  233 


home  ; — it  has  unlocked  many  a  touching 
reminiscence  ; — it  has  lighted  up  many  a 
plain  face  with  a  beaming,  beautiful  smile. 

One   of  the  homes  incidentally  visited, 

was   that   of    Miss    Caroline   P ,   who 

resided  for  some  years  as  a  sort  of  Mission- 
ary in  the  State  of  Maine.  She  mentioned 
that  she  used  to  feel  privileged  to  spend 
an  hour  each  week  with  Mrs.  Greenleaf, 
and  it  was  there  that  she  made  her  last 
call  before  going  to  Brownsville,  in  1817. 

"  You  did  not  then  know  Mary  ? " 
asked  the  writer,  for  she  had  not  spoken 
of  her. 

"  Yes,  but  she  was,  you  know,  modest 
and  retiring.  She  always  kept  in  the 
back-ground.  Mrs.  Greenleaf  was  the  chief 
attraction.  Mary  at  that  time  was  not  a 
Christian." 

"  But  she  was  exemplary  then,  was  she 
not  ?  " 


234  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 


Again  the  smile. 

"•  She  seemed  to  me  perfect.  I  used 
often  to  wish  that  I  were  half  as  lovely. 
I  suppose  she  must  have  had  some  faults, 
as  she  belonged  to  a  sinful  race  ;  but  I 
never  heard  of  any." 

We  must  now  anticipate  a  little,  in 
order  that  the  letters  which  follow,  selected 
and  arranged  by  a  lady,  an  attached  friend 
of  Miss  Greenleaf,  to  whom  many  of  them 
were  addressed,  may  be  given  in  unbroken 
succession. 

A  sister  Missionary,  Miss  Barber,  writes  : 

"  On  arriving  here  last  July,  although 
she  liad  accomplished  what  I  know  from 
experience  to  bo  a  very  wearisome  journey, 
yet  she  appeared  far  less  worn  than  could 
have  been  expected,  and  quite  strong  and 
vigorous.  She  was  most  diligent  in  her 
labors  in   that  vacation,  either  for  herself 


MARY     C.      GREENLEAF.  235 


or  some  one  else  ;  and  it  seemed  as  if  she 
could  hardly  wait  for  the  period  of  her 
more  active  labors  to  arrive.  Soon  after 
her  arrival,  a  mechanic  with  his  family 
came  to  reside  here  some  six  or  eight 
weeks,  in  order  to  accomplish  some  work 
for  the  institution.  Miss  Greenleaf  seeing 
that  they  had  children  who  needed  instruc- 
tion, immediately  sought  permission  of 
the  parents  to  instruct  them ;  which  being 
gladly  acceded  to,  she  daily,  morning  and 
evening,  collected  them  in  a  little  school, 
and  taught  them  not  only  to  read,  but 
religious  knowledge  also. 

"  When  school  commenced  in  October, 
she  was  zealously  devoted  to  her  charge, 
always  read  to  them,  or  talked  to  them  in 
the  most  earnest  manner  respecting  their 
soul's  salvation ;  and  above  all  prayed 
much,  both  with  them,  and  for  them.     We 


236  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

think  that  the  blessing  of  God  has  attended 
her  labors." 


Extracts  from  her  Journal. 

"  June  l^th,  1854. — How  can  I  ever 
recount,  or  be  sufficiently  grateful  for  the 
mercies  I  have  received  since  I  left  home, 
nine  weeks  since,  to  place  myself  under 
the  care  of  Dr.  Hewett.  My  bone  set, 
carried  through  pain  comfortably,  a  home 

provided   for   me  at  Mrs.  B 's  ;    many 

religious  privileges,  Christian  communion, 
pleasant  rides  into  the  country ;  health 
good,  and  wrist  nearly  well.  Preserved 
from  all  accident  on  railroad,  &c.,  brought 
home,  cordial  greeting  from  friends,  per- 
mitted to  hear  our  pastor  again,  &c.  0, 
may  my  lips  and  life  prove  my  gratitude." 

"  August  6th. — Have  always  an  abund- 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  237 

ance  of  mercies  to  record.  Preserved  in 
health,  though  one  day  indisposed ;  yet 
means  blessed  for  speedy  restoration.  Tem- 
poral wants  supplied.  Now  Lord,  help  me 
to  render  according  to  benefits  received." 

"  Sabbath,  20th. — Have  been  quite  sick 
for  several  days,  threatened  with  fever. 
Last  evening  went  to  bed  very  sick  ;  but 
through  the  kindness  of '  Him  who  healeth 
all  our  diseases,'  am  better  to-day,  and  this 
afternoon  went  to  the  house  of  God,  and 
heard  an  excellent  sermon  from  Dr.  Dim- 
mick,  upon  walking  with  God." 

"  Sabbath,  27th. — Health  restored  last 
week.  Religious  privileges  enjoyed,  and 
my  usual  blessings  continued. 

'  Still  the  orphan  owns  thy  care; 
Screened  by  Thee  in  every  danger, 
Heard  by  Thee  in  every  prayer."* 


238  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

"  September ,  11th. — Great  mercies  to 
record.  Went  on  Monday  afternoon  to 
Ipswich,  and  passed  the  night  with  my 
kind  friends  there, — from  whom  I  received 
tokens  of  love.  Tuesday,  went  to  Marble- 
head, — kind  reception,  and  nothing  but 
kindness  and  love  all  the  time.  Did  not 
feel  in  very  good  spirits.  My  friends  sent 
me  away  with  handsome  presents  ;  and  I 
was  safely  returned  last  evening.  To-day 
have  been  permitted  to  hear  most  faithful 
preaching  from  my  beloved  pastor.  0, 
may  it  do  me  good !  But,  alas  !  my  ingrati- 
tude  and  many   sins  !  " 

"  November,  5th. — Passed  more  than 
two  weeks  at  Mount  Rural,  and  had  a 
pleasant  time.  Was  not  very  well  when 
I  went,  but  the  change  of  air,  and  living, 
was  very  beneficial,  and  I  returned  home 
well.      Had    much     pleasant    intercourse 


MARY     C.    GREENLEAP.         239 

with  Miss  B ,  and  kindness  from  lier. 

0  for  a  grateful  and  cheerful  heart.  Have 
been  tempted  to  indulge  despondency. 
Lord,  save  me  from  it." 

"19^/«. — One  more  week  passed  at  Mount 
Rural.  Had  the  care  of  the  house  in  the 
absence  of  Miss  B .  Was  kindly  pre- 
served from  all  harm,  though  there  were 
two  fires  in  the  vicinity.  Do  not  feel 
quite  well  to-day.  My  spirits  rather  low. 
Perhaps  I  have  not  sympathised  enough 
with  the  desponding ;  and  so  I  have  this 
feeling." 

"  Saturday  evening. — Have  been  quite 
sick  this  week, — threatened  with  a  fever  ; 
but  my  kind  heavenly  Father  has  gra- 
ciously appeared  for  me,  &c.  Surely  I 
ought  to  have  a  thankful  heart,  but  alas  ! 

1  am  evil  and  unthankful.      Lord,  bring 


240  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

me  nearer  thyself.  Restore  my  health,  if 
it  please  thee  ;  but  give  me  quiet  resigna- 
tion to  thy  will." 

"  Sabbath,  Dec.  11th. — Constant  mer- 
cies, health  better,  kindnesses  from  friends, 
temporal  supplies,  religious  privileges, 
spirits  better.  '  Bless  the  Lord,  0  ray 
soul ! '  " 

''March  18th,  1855.— When  I  review 
my  life,  though  I  have  had  many  sharp 
trials,  and  was  called  to  bear  the  yoke 
in  my  childhood  and  youth,  yet  I  am 
disposed  to  think,  that  few  have  had  so 
many  blessings.  But,  alas !  what  poor 
returns   have   I   made !  " 

"  June,  21th. — Carried  through  great 
labors,  events  mercifully  ordered  ;  per- 
mitted    to    receive    under    my    roof    my 


MARY     C.      GREENLEAF.         241 

excellent  friends,  Misses  S .  Kind- 
ness from  them,  and  much  reason  for 
overflowing   gratitude." 

"  August   5th. — My   dear   aunt  W , 


after    severe     and     long     suffering,  was 

released    yesterday     morning ;    and  this 

afternoon  her  remains  are  to  be  com- 
mitted  to   the  tomb." 

^^ December  11th. — On  Tuesday  morning, 
4th    inst.,   received    a    letter    from    Mrs. 

W ,    saying     that    Mrs.    E was 

very  sick,  and  wished  me  to  come  to  Cam- 
bridge-port.    In  little  more  than  an  hour, 

I  left  with  Miss  F .     Found  my  friend 

very  sick  indeed,  and  at  her  earnest  re- 
quest, and  that  of  the  family,  concluded 
to  stay  as  long  as  she  lived.  She  died 
on  Saturday  the  8th,  at  twelve  o'clock 
at     noon,     after    very     severe     suffering. 


242  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

I  watched  two  whole  nights,  and  half  of 
another,  yet  my  health  was  preserved, 
and  I  was  able  to  wait  on  her  a  good 
deal ;  and  by  repeating  hymns,  and  pas- 
sages of  Scripture,  to  endeavor  to  direct 
her  mind  to  the  true  source  of  consolation. 
Now  Lord,  help  me  to  live  to  thee  alone, 
and  may  the  death  of  my  friend  be  sanc- 
tified to  me,  and  all  interested." 

"  Sabbath,  Jan.  6th,  1856. — Spared  to 
commence  another  year,  while  three  of 
my   friends   have   died   the  last   week." 

"  Jan.  24:th. — Still  encouraging  symp- 
toms of  a  work  of  grace  among  us,  and 
most   faithful   preaching   to-day." 

"  March  2M. — Have  been  dealt  with 
in  great  kindness  and  love  this  last  week. 
There  is  some  prospect  that  a   long-cher- 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF,  243 

ished  desire  of  my  heart  may  be  gratified  ; 
that  I  may  devote  myself  more  exclusively 
to  the  service  of  Christ.  The  kindness 
of  my  pastor  and  other  friends  have  been 
great.  The  Holy  Spirit's  influences  seem 
more  apparent  among  us, — and  I  have 
renewed  reason  to  be  humble  and  grateful. 
Unexpectedly  summoned  to  New  York. 
Lord,  go  with  me,  bless,  and  defend  me." 

"  Wapamicka,  July  IWi. — Now  that  I 
am  actually  on  missionary  ground.  Lord, 
I  ask  thee  grace  equal  to  my  day.  May 
I  indulge  in  no  sin  ;  but  be  strengthened 
to  every  duty, — be  divinely  directed  every 
step  ;  and  not  left  to  do  any  harm,  but 
good." 

"  August  3c?. — Have  read  in  Dr.  Mil- 
nor's  life  to-day,  and  have  been  much 
interested.     I  feel  that  I  shall  need  great 


244  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

grace  here,  that  tliere  may  be  no  jealousy, 
no  self-will, — no  evil  surmisings  ;  but  a 
spirit  of  self-sacrifice,—  a  willingness  to  be 
or  do  any  thing  which  God  requires. 
Lord,  use  me  as  the  instrument  of  good 
to  some  souls  here  !  " 


"  August    10th. — Miss   E returned 

on  Thursday  sick,  and  is  still  confined 
to  her  bed.  Lord,  be  thou  her  physician, 
both  for  soul  and  body.  Give  me  this 
day  a  humble,  spiritual  and  grateful  spirit. 
It  is  the  communion  at  Newburyport.  0, 
may  I  commune  with  Christ  here !  To 
whom  else  should  I  go  ? " 

Under  date  of  June  1st,  1857,  she  writes 
to  a  young   relative : — 

"  Yes,  my  dear ,  you  judged  rightly 

in  thinking  I  am  your  friend.     Long  before 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  245 

the  patcli-work  days,  I  have  felt  a  great 
love  for  you  ;  and  though  I  believe  I  have 
a  very  cold  way  of  manifesting  affection, 
for  every  body,  I  know  it  is  in  my  heart, 
nor  has  three  thousand  miles  of  separation 
weakened  my  attachment  to  fi-iends. 

"I  dreamed  last  night  that  my  term 
of  service  here  had  expired,  and  I  had 
returned  to  Newburyport.  But  my  friends 
did  not  seem  very  glad  to  see  me.  I  had 
no  home,  and  seemed  only  to  be  meeting 
them  in  the  street,  and  glad  was  I  to 
awake,  and  find  it  but  a  dream  ^ — and  that 
I  was  still  on  missionary  ground,  with 
thirty-two  girls  in  the  next  room,  over 
whom  I  can  exert  an  influence  daily." 

Whence  this  dream  ?  Was  it  the  effect 
of  incipient  disease  acting  upon  a  brain  in 
which  thoughts  of  dear  native  place,  and 
long  cherished  friends  were  busy  ?     Or  was 

17 


246  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

it  the  one  special  intimation  of  her  heav- 
enly Father,  that  he  was  about  to  call  her 
hence ; /or  this  was  not  her  rest;  because  it 
is  polluted  ?     Or  both  ?     We  know  not. 

But  we  know  that  she  recognized  the 
eye  and  hand  of  her  Father  in  each 
event  and  circumstance  of  life.  She 
looked  after  her  prayers,  and  interpreted 
God's  providence  with  reference  to  them. 
Thus,  when  she  fell  and  injured  her  wristy 
she  thought  she  must  have  failed  that  day 
to  ask  Divine  preservation  from  personal 
harm. 

And  still  our  Saviour  says  to  his  disci- 
ples, "  According  to  your  faith,  be  it  unto 
you."  Still  with  those  who  dwell  very 
near  to  him,  and  shut  out  the  turmoil  of 
earth,  that  they  may  listen  intently  for  his 
voice,  he  hath  ways  of  communing,  un- 
known to  the  world, — unknown  to  world- 
entangled  Christians. 


MARY  C.  GREENLEAF.    247 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

In  the  arrangement  of  the  remaining 
letters,  we  have  endeavored  to  give  a  con- 
tinuous narrative  of  Miss  G's  journey 
to  the  Mission ;  a  minute  description  of 
the  face  of  the  country,  of  the  weatlier, 
and  the  routine  of  daily  duty,  not  only 
for  the  gratification  of  her  numerous 
friends,  but  in  the  fond  hope  that  some 
who  read  them  will  be  constrained  to  fol- 
low her  noble  example,  and  be  glad  to 
know  the  difficulties  and  the  pleasures 
of  the  way.  We  have  also  taken  the 
liberty,  where  there  were  several  letters 
on  one  subject,  to  select  that  which  seemed 
to  us  most  graphic  ;  and  incorporate  pas- 
sages from  the  others  into  it ;  thus  making 
the  descriptions  more  full,  and  finishing 
up  the  pictures  with  the  artist's  own  nice 


248  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

touches.  We  indulge  the  hope  that  the 
friends  to  wliom  the  letters  are  addressed, 
will  be  pleased.  It  was  the  onlj  method 
which  occurred  to  us,  by  which  we  could 
do  justice  to  the  writer,  and  at  the  same 
time  avoid  tedious  repetition,  or  ungrace- 
ful abruptness. 

With  her  usual  lovely  modesty.  Miss 
G.  calls  her  letters  "  dry  and  barren." 
We  esteem  it  a  rich  privilege  to  have  had 
access  to  the  correspondence,  and  feel 
very  grateful  that  we  may  furnish  the 
thread  upon  which  the  pearls  are  strung. 


To  Mrs.  J.  B.,  of  Newburyport. 

"  Pittsburg,  May  SOth,  1856. 
"  I  was  very  glad,  my  ever  dear  friend, 
to  receive  your  letter  in  New  York.    Every 
word  was  interesting.     Though  sympathiz- 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  249 

ing  with  you  in  your  sickness,  I  cannot 
but  rejoice  in  your  fresh  experience  of 
the  grace  of  God, — that  you  have  found 
'  He  giveth  songs  in  the  night.' 

"I  left  New  York  yesterday  at  eleven 
in  the  morning.  Mr.  Wilson,  the  Secre- 
tary, accompanied  me  to  Philadelphia, 
which  city  we  reached  about  half-past 
three  in  the  afternoon.  There  we  met 
Miss  Morrison,  who  has  been  a  Missionary 
to  the  Choctaws  for  eight  years,  and  who 
is  now  returning  to  the  Mission  to  that 
tribe.  At  eleven  in  the  evening,  under 
the  care  of  Rev.  Dr.  McKinney,  we  left 
for  Pittsburg,  and  traveling  all  night, 
reached  this  city  about  two  in  the  after- 
noon, and  having  brushed  myself  up  a 
little,  I  sit  down  to  write. 

"  We  expect  Mr.  Young,  an  accepted 
teacher,  will  join  us  here ;  and  under  his 
escort  we  hope  to  reach  Cincinnati  tomor- 


250  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

row  evening,  pass  the  Sabbath  there,  and 
then  on  Monday  take  steamboat  with  two 
clergymen,  down  the  Oliio.  '  Hitlierto  the 
Lord  hath  helped  us,' — not  the  slightest 
accident  has  befallen  us ;  and  the  sublime 
and  delightful  prospects  as  we  crossed  the 
Alleghanies,  afforded  me  a  rich  treat.  I 
was  reminded  of  tlie  passage,  '  Thy  right- 
eousness is  like  the  great  mountains,'  and 
safe  under  His  protection,  I  have  had  no 
fear  of  evil.  Indeed  I  have  been  increas- 
ingly strengthened  to  go  forward  in  this 
Missionary  labor  ever  since  I  left  home  ; 
for  the  many  Christian  friends  I  met,  all 
spoke  words  of  encouragement,  and  prom- 
ised to  aid  me  by  their  prayers.  The 
journey  will  probably  be  longer  than  I 
anticipated, — it  may  occupy  four  weeks, 
and  then  it  will  take  nearly  as  long  for  a 
letter  to  reach  Newburyport ;  so  if  you 
do  not  hear  from  me  for  two  months,  you 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  251 

need  not  be  anxious.  I  am  glad  to  meet 
you  at  the  throne  of  grace  every  Wednes- 
day, to  pray  for  those  so  near  and  dear 
to  you,  as  well  as  for  yourself,  and  may 
we  persevere  until  the  blessing  come. 

"  Miss  Morrison  was  five  and  a  half  years 
in  the  Indian  territory,  before  she  had 
fever  and  ague,  and  then  it  was  brought 
on  hj  riding  on  horseback  in  the  hot  sun. 
She  has  been  at  home  two  years,  but  now 
gladly  returns,  though  she  looks  so  frail 
compared  with  me,  I  almost  wonder  at 
her  courage. 

"  I  had  three  pleasant  interviews  with 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vermilye,*  in  New  York. 
They  gave  me  a  beautiful  Polyglot  Bible, 
for  a  parting  gift.  I  shall  leave  this  letter 
to  finish  in  Cincinnati,  after  giving  you 
the  post  office  address,  which  is.  Boggy 
Depot,   Chickasaw   Nation,   West    of    Ar- 


♦  Her  Pastor  and  his  Wife. 


252  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

kansas ;  and  I  do  not  care  how  many 
letters  I  find  there  on  my  arrival." 

"  Cincinnati,  June  1st. — Well,  my  dear 

M ,  here  we  are  safely  brought  on  our 

way.  Mr.  Young  came  in  soon  after  I 
had  finished  writing,  and  we  left  Pittsburg 
with  him  at  three  o'clock  yesterday  morn- 
ing. It  was  very  cold,  and  as  we  got  up 
at  two,  we  were  very  tired  when  we  arrived 
here  a  little  before  seven,  last  evening. 
The  cars  were  excessively  crowded  all  the 
way,  by  men  coming  on  here  to  the  politi- 
cal convention  ;  and  when  we  reached  the 
depot,  the  coaches  were  instantly  filled, 
so  that  we  had  to  wait  the  arrival  of  others, 
before  we  could  be  taken  to  the  Walnut 
Street  House,  where  we  were  directed  to 
stop.  On  reaching  it,  the  landlord  assured 
us  he  had  no  room  for  us  ;  nor  could  he 
tell   us   where   we    could    find    any ;    but 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.         253 

allowed  us  to  come  in,  until  we  could 
make  arrangements.  So  at  once  I  sent 
my  card  to  our  old  N.  P.  friend  Mr.  J. 
Haskell,  who  came  over  immediately,  and 
insisted  upon  our  going  at  once  to  his 
house,  and  glad  indeed  were  we  to  go. 
Hi^  wife  also  and  daughters  gave  us  a 
cordial  welcome ;  and  under  their  hospi- 
table roof,  we  abide  'till  tomorrow  noon, 
when  we  expect  to  embark  in  a  steamboat 
for  Louisville.     "We  went  to  the  Episcopal 

church   this   morning   with    Mr.   H 's 

family ;  heard  a  good  sermon  from  the 
rector,  Mr.  Nickerson,  and  united  with 
them  in  celebrating  the  dying  love  of  our 
common  Lord  and  Saviour.  Bishop  Mc- 
Ilvaine  assisted  at  the  communion,  and 
we  found  it  good  to  be  there.  This  after- 
noon, we  went  to  the  old  school  Presby- 
terian church,  and  sat  down  again  at 
the  table  of  our  adorable  Redeemer.     So 


254  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

we  have  had  rich  cordials  by  the  way, 
and  can  only  sing  of  mercy.  After  we 
left  Philadelphia,  we  suffered  with  the  cold, 
riding  so  in  the  night,  and  yesterday  morn- 
ing the  ground  was  white  with  frost.  To- 
day is  warm,  the  sun  pouring  down  in- 
tensely. How  thankful  should  we  be  fbr 
the  rest  of  the  Sabbath,  both  for  body 
and  soul,  and  what  a  loss  do  they  sustain, 
who  have  no  relish  for  the  spiritual  duties 
of  the  day,  but  profane  it  by  idleness  or 
recreation.  Adieu  for  the  present, — if  I 
can  I  will  add  a  word  in  the  morning." 

"  Monday  morning'. — Went  to  hear  Mr. 
Scott  last  evening,  and  after  a  good  night, 
am  well  and  cheerful  this  morning.  Hope 
to  leave  in   a  boat  at  twelve   this  day." 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  255 


To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  B.,  of  Boston. 

"    *      *      *     We   took   passage   in   the 
steamboat  for  Louisville,  as  we  could  find 
none  going  farther.     Both  the  Ohio  and 
Mississippi   were   very    low,   and   we    got 
aground   once   before  reaching  Louisville, 
Tuesday   morning.     We   then   rode   three 
miles  to  Portland,  and  took  passage  in  a 
St.^ouis  boat  for  Cairo,  which  we  reached 
safely  on  Friday  evening.     At  five  o'clock, 
Saturday    morning,  a    New  Orleans   boat 
came  along,  took  us  in,  agreeing  to  land 
us  in   Memphis   for  the  Sabbath  ;  but  as 
they  could  not  proceed  in  the  night,  lest 
they  should  be  snagged,  we  did  not  reach 
Memphis  'till  late  in  the  afternoon.     We 
continued  on  and  reached  Napoleon,   Mon- 
day   evening.     Here    we    staid    one    day 
waiting  for  a  boat,  which  sailed  on  Tuesday 


256  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

evening.     We    reached    Little   Rock,   the 
capital  of  the  State,  on  Friday  morning." 


To  Mrs.  J.  N.  C.  of  Newburyport. 

"  Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  June  15th. 
"  My  dear  Mrs.  C, 

"  I  trust  you  will  have  received  my 
letter  from  Napoleon,  ere  this  reaches  you. 
That  town  is  just  below  the  mouth  of  the 
Arkansas,  We  left  it  on  Tuesday  P.  M., 
and  on  Thursday  morning  were  within 
forty-five  miles  of  this  town,  and  were 
hoping  to  be  here  in  a  few  hours ;  when 
to  our  dismay  we  found  our  progress 
arrested  by  a  sand  bar,  which  our  boat 
could  not  pass ;  and  for  some  hours  we 
knew  not  what  to  do, — our  hearts  were 
therefore  lifted  to  Him  who  is  '  our  refuge 
and  strength,  a  very  present  help  in  trou- 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  257 

ble,'  and  in  a  few  hours  we  saw  a  boat 
coming  down  the  river,  which  anchored 
on  the  other  side  of  the  bar.  Our  captain 
went  to  it  in  a  yawl,  and  finally  agreed 
with  the  other  captain  to  exchange  passen- 
gers and  freight ;  and  in  the  afternoon, 
we  walked  about  three  hundred  yards  to 
the  other  boat,  and  next  morning  at  half- 
past  eleven,  we  landed  safely  in  this  place, 
where  we  were  kindly  received  by  Dr. 
Dodge,  and  conducted  to  his  house,  where 
we  are  hospitably  entertained.  I  found 
here  a  former   Sabbath  school  scholar  of 

of  mine,   Mrs.   K ,   who   called   upon 

me  in  a  few  hours  after  my  arrival,  and 
with  whom  Miss  Morrison  and  I  passed 
yesterday  very  pleasantly.    She  is  daughter 

of  Mr.    D ,   one   of  our   church,  and 

married  a  son  of  Mr.  H.  K.,  of  N.  P. 
Tlhe  Presbyterian  clergyman.  Rev.  Mr. 
Frazier,  is  absent,  so   Dr.  Dodge   read  a 


258  LIFE    AND    LETTERS 

sermon.  And  as  they  have  no  afternoon 
service  here,  but  an  evening  one,  we  have 
remained  at  home  this  afternoon ;  but 
intend  going  to  the  Methodist  church  this 
evening. 

"  The  Arkansas  is  so  low  we  can  proceed 
no  farther  bj  water, — so  with  the  leave 
of  Providence,  we  expect  to  set  out  tomor- 
row in  a  large,  new  covered  wagon,  with 
two  horses,  taking  with  us  our  own  pro- 
vision for  the  way.     Mr.  B bought  me 

an  air  pillow  in  Boston,  which  will  serve 
for  a  cushion,  and  supply  the  place  of 
springs ;  and  we  trust  the  same  kind  hand, 
which  has  preserved  us  hitherto,  will  still 
be  our  guide.  I  meditate  upon  the  ninety- 
first  Psalm,  which  prevents  apprehension. 
Miss  Morrison  is  not  very  strong,  and  has 
repeatedly  been  threatened  with  sickness 
on  the  way,  but  is  now  pretty  comfortaUle. 
I  have  the  greatest  reason  to  be  thankful 


MART     C.     GREENLEAF.  259 

tliat  I  have  been  uniformly  well,  though 
I  have  been  very  careful  of  my  diet,  think- 
ing '  an  ounce  of  prevention  is  worth  a 
pound  of  cure,'  but  I  ascribe  nothing  to 
myself,  it  is  all  owing  to  the  goodness  of 
God,  who  '  prevents  me  with  the  blessings 
of  his  goodness,'  and  I  feel  bound  by  new 
obligations  to  dedicate  my  life  anew  to  His 
service,  who  merits  all  my  love. 

"  As  our  progress  will  be  very  slow,  we 
expect  to  get  no  farther  than  Stockbridge 
on  Saturday  next,  and  there  spend  the 
Sabbath  with  Rev.  Mr.  Byington ;  and  in 
a  week  after,  I  may  reach  Wapanucka." 


To  Miss  A.  P.,  OF  N.  P. 

"  Little  Rock. 
"    *       *       *     There   are   five  churches 
here  ;  one  Presbyterian,  one  Episcopal,  one 


260  LIFE      AND     LETTERS 

Methodist,  one  Baptist,  and  one  Roman 
Catholic,  and  many  pretty  houses  with 
fine  gardens.  We  walk  to  Dr.  Dodge's 
door  through  a  fine  yard,  in  which  are 
many  ornamental  and  fruit  trees, — a  beau- 
tiful Acacia  in  full  bloom,  specially  attracts 
my  attention.  In  the  street  are  large 
locust  trees  in  front  of  the  house,  on  which 
gold  robins,  and  many  other  birds  make 
their  nests,  and  delight  our  eyes  and  ears. 
The  roses  and  pinks  have  almost  done 
blooming, — green  peas  are  gone,  but  beans 
and  cucumbers  remain,  and  green  corn. 
Melons,  squashes  and  tomatoes  are  in 
blossom,  or  forming.  It  seems  such  a 
rapid  transition  to  us  from  snow,  a  flight 
of  which  we  had  in  Pittsturg,  two  weeks 
since,  to  ripe  apples  of  which  we  partook 
yesterday  from  the  doctor's  garden." 


MART     C.     GREENLEAP.  261 

To  Mrs,  J.  N.  C,  op  N.  P. 

"  Spencer^  (^Choctaio  Nation,^ 
June  21th. 
"  Here  I  am,  brought  thus  far  safely  on 
my  way  about  eighty  miles  from  Wapa- 
nucka.  We  reached  this  place  to-day,  just 
before  twelve  o'clock,  and  having  been 
refreshed,  I  sit  down  to  tell  you  a  little 
of  our  journey  from  Little  Rock.  We  left 
that  place  sixteenth  instant,  just  before 
noon,  in  a  large  covered  wagon  with  two 
horses,  accustomed  to  drawing  a  wood 
cart.  In  appearance  we  very  much  resem- 
bled the  Barrington  beggars,  except  that 
we  had  no  baskets  to  sell,  and  no  squalid 
children  peeping  out.  However,  Mr.  Young 
was  a  good  driver,  and  we  got  along  with- 
out any  obstacle  worth  naming.  The  first 
day  we  went  only  ten   miles,  and   found 


262  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

good  accommodations  for  the  night  with 
a  deacon  of  the  Presbyterian  chiu-ch,  in 
Little  Rock.  Next  day  we  went  thirty 
miles,  resting  two  hours  at  noon, — we 
always  ate  our  dinner  on  the  road.  The 
weather  was  excessively  warm,  thermom- 
eter some  days  over  a  hundred.  Wed- 
nesday noon,  we  were  overtaken  by  a 
thunder  storm,  whicli  continued  nearly 
all  the  afternoon ;  the  rain  descending 
in  torrents,  and  pouring  into  the  wagon, 
and  as  we  were  ascending  a  hill,  the  wagon 
stuck  fast  in  a  deep  rut,  and  we  were 
obliged  to  get  out  while  Mr.  Young,  with 
the  help  of  a  rail,  pryed  it  out,  and  all 
wet  as  we  were,  we  reached  a  house  to 
whicli  we  had  been  directed,  where  we 
asked  for  accommodations.  The  woman 
said  she  was  not  very  well  prepared,  as 
her  house  had  been  nearly  blown  to  pieces 
a  few  weeks   since,   and    had    not    been 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAP.  263 


thoroughly  repaired.  But  as  there  was 
no  other  one  near,  we  were  glad  to  enter. 
There  were  but  two  rooms  in  the  log  cabin, 
in  one  of  them  slept  the  parents  and  chil- 
dren, five  in  number,  and  in  the  other  we 
were  accommodated  ;  and  strange  to  say, 
slept   soundly   'till    morning.      They   had 

no  oil,  or  candles,  so  Mrs.  S melted 

some  grease  in  a  spoon,  and  having  lighted 
it,  put  it  into  a  crevice  between  the  logs, 
and  as  it  burned  down,  replenished  it  from 
the  fat  in  which  she  fried  a  chicken  ;  and 
when  supper  was  over,  the  fire  by  which 
she  cooked,  supplied  the  light.  But  not 
to  give  too  many  details,  we  found  on 
Saturday  we  could  not  reach  Mr.  Bying- 
ton's  as  we  hoped,  but  spent  the  Sabbath 
at  a  rich  planter's  about  thirty  miles  from 
the  Indian  territory.  They  were  members 
of  the  Methodist  church,  but  there  was 
no   preaching  in   the    neighborhood,   that 


264  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

day,  so  we  had  a  quiet  time  reading  at 
home  ;  the  house  being  quite  large.  Mon- 
day we  proceeded  on  our  journey,  but  the 
road  was  very  hilly,  the  weather  very  hot, 
and  we  were  obliged  to  seek  shelter  in  a 
most  miserable  house,  which  we  were  glad 
to  leave  before  breakfast.  Before  noon  we 
reached  Stockbridge,  Rev.  Mr.  Byington's 
station,  where  we  staid  until  next  morning. 

Mr.  B was  not  at  home,  but  Mrs.  B , 

a  very  interesting  lady,  did  every  thing 
to  make  us  comfortable.  We  left  there 
Wednesday  morning,  and  reached  Whee- 
lock,  another  Missionary  station,  about 
dark.  On  our  way  met  Mr.  Byington 
returning  from  a  Missionary  tour.  He 
could  not  recognize  me,  but  when  I  told 
him  who  I  was,  he  could  not  speak  for  a 
minute,  but  turned  his  head  away  to 
restrain  his  emotion.  Yesterday  we  came 
on  to  Pine  Ridge,  where  Mr.  Kingsbury 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.         265 

is  stationed.  He  has  been  among  the 
Indians  forty  years,  and  is  a  veteran  in  the 
service  of  his  Master.  He  wished  I  could 
have  brought  several  more  with  me,  as 
helpers  are  very  much  needed  now,  many 
of  those  who  have  been  here  several  years, 
having  left  to  recruit  their  wasted  energies. 
This  morning  we  came  ten  miles  to  this 
place,  where  Mr.  Young  and  Miss  Morrison 
are  to  remain.  The  Seminary  at  Spencer 
is  solely  for  boys, — the  term  closed  on 
Tuesday,  and  all  save  eight  or  ten  have 
gone  home.  Those  dined  with  us  to-day, 
and  behaved  with  great  propriety.  At 
Wheelock,  three  Choctaws  breakfasted  with 
us,  and  one  of  them  returned  thanks  in 
Choctaw.  Though  I  could  not  understand 
a  word,  save  Jesus  and  Jehovah,  it  was 
very  interesting  to  witness  the  apparent 
fervor  with  which  he  spoke.  We  met  many 
of  them  on  the  road,   men,  women,  and 


266  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

children,  and  generally  stojDped  and  spoke 
to  them,  which  seemed  to  please  them  very 
much.  Most  of  them  dress  like  the  whites, 
except  that  the  women  do  not  wear  bon- 
nets, but  tie  handkerchiefs  over  their  heads 
instead.  I  meant  to  have  said  before,  that 
the  roads  are  very  good  for  a  new  country, 
all  over  which  we  passed,  being  public 
roads.  But  it  is  hilly  and  rocky,  in  some 
places  goes  through  woods,  and  until  yes- 
terday had  not  crossed  a  prairie.  The 
school  at  Wapanucka  closed  this  week, 
so  there  will  not  be  many  girls  there ; 
but  some  of  the  ladies  are  sick,  so  I  can 
be  of  service  to  them.  I  shall  probably 
set  out  for  W.  early  next  week.  The  jour- 
ney will  occupy  three  days.  The  Mission- 
aries seem  to  be  veiy  cheerful,  though  they 
are  abundant  in   labors." 


MARY     C.      GREENLEAP.  267 


To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  B.,  op  Boston. 

^'■Spencer  Academy,  July  6th. 
"  Friday,  June  27th,  we  came  ten  miles 
to  this  place,  just  four  weeks  and  one  day 
from  New  York,  and  eleven  days  from 
Little  Rock.  This  academy  is  situated 
in  the  woods,  no  house  being  near.  It 
consists  of  five  buildings  of  two  stories, 
made  of  split  logs,  clapboarded  and  painted 
white,  with  piazzas  in  front  and  rear, — 
a  one  story  school-house,  a  stone  house, 
and  five  or  six  smaller  buildings.  A  fine 
bell,  the  gift  of  a  gentleman  for  whom  the 
place  is  named,  is  elevated  in  front  of  Mr. 
Reed's  house.  This  is  rung  every  morning 
before  five,  to  wake  all  up,  and  is  subse- 
quently used  to  call  all  to  their  meals. 
There  are  beautiful  China  and  locust  trees 
in  front  of  the  main  buildings,  while  in 


268  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

the  large  back  yard  the  original  forest 
trees  remain  as  they  were  before  the  build- 
ings were  erected,  and  afford  a  good  shade. 
In  one  of  the  gardens  there  is  now  a 
passion  flower  in  blossom, — this  is  found 
growing  wild  in  the  woods.  The  Mission 
family  seem  very  happy ;  one  of  the  ladies 
told  me  she  would  not  leave  here  on  any 
account.  Oh,  may  we  all  be  faithful  in 
laboring  to  win  souls  to  Christ,  and  never 
think  we  can  do  enough  for  Him  who  gave 
himself  for  us." 


To  Mrs.  J.  B.,  of  N.  P. 

"  Wapanucka,  July  22>d. 

'^I  wrote  you  from  Cincinnati,  and  gave 

you  my  address,  and  hoped  to  find  a  letter 

from  you  on  my  arrival  here  thirteen  days 

since,  but  I  found  not  one  from  any  body  ; 


MAEY     C.     GREENLEAF.  269 

although  two  letters  have  come  since,  and 
two  Heralds.      *      *      *      * 

"  *  *  *  *  From  Little  Rock  we 
traveled  very  slowly,  our  accommodations 
at  night  were  sometimes  good,  and  some- 
times very  poor,  in  wretched,  dirty  log- 
cabins,  yet  we  slept  sweetly,  and  remem- 
bering that  '  the  Son  of  Man  had  not 
where  to  lay  his  head,'  were  cheerful  and 
happy.  On  the  eleventh  day  from  Little 
Rock,  we  reached  Spencer  academy.  As 
the  vacation  had  commenced,  I  did  not 
leave  S.  until  the  eighth  instant,  and 
reached  here  the  eleventh.  It  is  about 
ninety  miles  from  Spencer,  and  three  hun- 
dred and  forty  from  Little  Rock,  yet  I  did 
not  feel  very  much  fatigued ;  and  though 
the  weather  has  been  extremely  warm,  yet 
my  health  is  excellent. 

"The  building  here  is  three  stories  high, 
of  limestone,  which  abounds  in  this  region. 


270  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

It  stands  on  an  elevation,  having  a  small 
prairie  in  front,  and  an  extensive  rural 
prospect,  with  not  a  habitation  in  view.  The 
territory  is  very  larg3,  and  the  Indians  do 
not  settle  in  villages  but  scatter  about, 
generally  at  some  distance  from  the  road, 
going  to  their  homes  by  bridle-paths  ;  so 
that  often  we  would  travel  several  miles 
without  seeing  a  house.  Tlie  Chickasaws 
are  a  small  tribe,  numbering  not  quite 
five  thousand.  They  are  less  religious 
than  the  Choctaws,  but  of  late  are  unus- 
ually desirous  of  preaching  and  instruction. 
Rev.  Mr.  Wilson,  who  is  at  the  head  of 
this  institution,  goes  almost  every  Sabbath 
to  preach  to  them  at  different  stations, 
preaching  generally  in  the  open  air,  under 
a  rude  arbor.  Several  natives  keep  up 
Sabbath  schools  which  adults  as  well  as 
children  attend.  In  the  Missionary  family 
here,   besides    Mr.    Wilson    and  his   wife. 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  271 

there  are  two  farmers  and  their  wives,  and 
six  female  teachers.  There  are  also  five 
black  servants,  who  do  the  hard  work, 
which  it  would  be  impossible  for  us  to  do 
in  this  warm  climate. 

"  You  will  probably  want  to  know  how 
I  feel,  now  I  am  actually  on  Missionary 
ground.  Although  I  have  not  entered  on 
my  Missionary  labors,  and  cannot  tell  liow 
I  shall  feel  then,  yet  I  have  been  contented 
and  happy;  missing  it  is  true,  my  friends 
and  religious  privileges,  but  still  finding 
that  God  is  present  everywhere,  and  loving 
to  lean  on  His  Almighty  arm.  I  have 
heard  but  one  sermon  since  leaving  Cincin- 
nati, and  that  was  in  this  place  Sunday 
before  last,  by  Mr.  Wilson.  He  lectured 
on  Sabbath  evening  on  a  chapter  in  Joshua, 
which  is  preUy  much  like  a  commentary. 
We  have  family  worship  immediately  after 
breakfast  and  tea,  and  always  have  a  hymn 


272  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

sung  then.  One  of  the  farmers  is  a  Scotch- 
man, who  often  leads  our  devotions,  and 
his  prayers  are  very  excellent,  as  well  as 
those  of  the  other.  The  other  evening 
Mr.  W.  was  absent,  and  he  gave  out  that 
beautiful  hymn  : 

'  Saviour,  breathe  an  evening  blessing, 
Ere  repose  our  spirits  seal,  &c.' 

which  I  enjoyed  much,  and  this  mornijig 
we  sung — 

'  O  for  a  closer  walk  with  God.' 


To  Miss  M.  P.  S.,  op  N.  P. 

"  Wapanncka,  July  19. 
"  When  Mr.  Wilson  returned  from  the 
Post  Office  Wednesday  evening,  he  brought 
me  yours  of  June  18th,  and  was  I  not  glad 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  273 


to  get  it?  Every  word  was  interesting, — 
I  only  wished  I  could  get  an  answer  to  the 
office  on  Thursday,  as  the  mail  does  not 
go  until  Friday  ;  but  there  was  no  way  to 
send  it,  so  I  must  wait  another  week. 

"  You  wonder  in  your  letter  if  the  birds 
sing  where  I  am.  Yes,  my  dear  M.,  they  ' 
do.  I  was  in  Little  Hock  the  day  you 
commenced  your  letter.  A  variety  of  birds 
were  around  Dr.  Dodge's,  golden  robins 
and  others ;  but  our  common  robin  I  have 
never  seen,  and  am  told  he  is  not  here. 
All  through  the  journey  from  Little  Rock, 
the  birds  abounded,  and  they  are  here  too. 
There  are  three  martin  houses  on  poles 
in  front  of  this  building,  which  have  nu- 
merous inhabitants.  All  the  way,  there 
was  the  golden  coreopsis,  four  varieties 
growing  wildly  in  the  woods;  and  here 
there  are  verbenas,  cactuses,  prickly  pears, 
passion   flowers,   and   many   others   which 


274  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

grow  spontaneously.  The  Indian  territory 
is  far  more  beautiful  than  Arkansas,  indeed 
containing  some  very  fine  prairies,  and 
delightful  prospects  ;  but  it  is  so  large, 
the  Indians  are  scattered  widely,  and  live 
generally  far  away  from  the  road ;  but 
when  they  have  '  big  meetings,'  they  come 
out  in  large  numbers. 

"  10 th.  Mr.  Wilson  has  gone  several 
miles  to  preach  ;  three  of  the  family  went 
with  him,  and  if  I  had  known  how  to  ride 
on  horseback,  should  have  gone  too ;  but 
that  I  have  yet  to  learn.  I  have  a  room 
to  myself,  to  which  I  can  always  retire 
when  I  wish.  It  is  quite  large  and  de- 
cently furnished.  I  have  been  reading 
two  good  sermons,  and  hope  you  have 
heard  two.  After  all,  the  great  end  of 
preaching  is  practice. 

••  I  trust  our  temporary  separation  will 
be  sanctified  to  both  of  us.     Certain  I  am 


MAKY     C.     GREENLEAF.         275 

that  not  one  unnecessary  trial  will  befall 
either  of  us,  and  if  we  only  profit  by  God's 
dealings  with  us,  and  willingly  labor  in 
the  vineyard  of  Christ,  it  will  not  be  long 
ere  we  rest  from  our  labors,  and  are  at 
home  in  heaven,  and  surely 

'  A  hope  so  much  divine, 
May  trials  well  endure.' 

You  remember  Mr.  Vermilye's  text  on 
the  first  Sabbath  this  year  was,  '  Son,  go 
work  in  my  vineyard.'  I  have  come  to 
work  for  a  time  in  this  part,  and  you 
remain  to  work  where  you  are.  Let  us 
then  be  diligent.  I  long  to  hear  who 
.joined  the  church  at  the  last  communion. 
Oh,  may  the  young  members,  as  well  as 
the  old,  adorn  their  profession  by  a  holy 
walk  and  conversation. 


276  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

To  Mrs.  J.  N.  C,  op  N.  P. 

"  Wapanucka,  July  11. 

"  I  arrived  here  yesterday  afternoon, 
in  good  healtli,  having  been  protected  and 
blessed  every  step  of  the  way.  *  *  *  * 
As  I  rode  into  the  yard,  and  felt  that  I 
had  reached  the  home  to  which  I  had  been 
looking  for  the  last  three  months,  I  thought 
that  I  could  be  happy  here  if  1  have  the 
presence  of  Christ,  for  it  is  only  that  which 
can  make  us  really  happy  any  where. 

"It  is  vacation  here,  as  it  is  at  all  the 
schools,  so  I  do  not  see  any  of  the  girls, 
and  my  work  for  the  next  two  and  a  half 
months  will  only  be  preparing  for  the 
session  in  October.  Rev.  Mr.  Wilson,  the 
superintendent,  (nephew  of  the  Secretary 
in  New  York,)  seems  to  be  an  excellent 
man,  and  his  wife   and   the  other   ladies 


MARY     C.      GREENLEAF.  277 


seem  very  pleasant.  The  food  is  good, 
and  we  have  glass  tumblers ;  at  Spencer 
we  had  Japan,  and  the  water  did  not  taste 
so  good. 

"  On  the  way  from  Spencer,  we  passed 
the  nights  with  tlie  Choctaws.  Tuesday 
night  our  landlady  was  a  widow  with  eight 
children.  She  spoke  English  with  great 
facility,  had  a  good  table,  clean  beds  in  a 
room  by  ourselves,  each  of  us  having  a 
separate  one,  clean  wash-bason  and  towel, 
and  very  far  superior  accommodations  to 
some  we  had  in  Arkansas.  Wednesday 
night  we  put  up  with  the  Chief, — the 
accommodations  there  were  poor,  but  we 
did  not  sup  or  breakfast  there,  and  slept 
quietly,  notwithstanding  the  discomforts. 
The  chief  is  a  pious  man,  an  elder  in  the 
church.  He  prayed  in  English,  and  re- 
turned thanks  that  the  sun  had  not  smitten 
down  the  travelers  who  had  come  under 

19 


278  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

his  roof,  and  prayed  for  a  blessing  on  all 
the  Missionaries,  and  on  the  people,  return- 
ing thanks  that  the  Missionaries  had  come 
to  teach  them  and  their  children  the  way 
of  salvation  by  Jesus  Christ.  In  the  morn- 
ing I  offered  to  pay  him  for  our  lodging, 
and  the  provender  of  the  horse,  but  he 
said  '  No,  you  cannot  pay  me  any  thing.  I 
am  only  sorry  I  could  not  give  you  better 
accommodations.'  We  stopped  at  noon  at 
a  public  house  at  Boggy  Depot,  where  we 
asked  for  a  cup  of  tea,  and  had  a  cup  of 
very  nice  green  tea,  with  cream  and  loaf 
sugar,  and  here  the  lady,  a  Chickasaw, 
refused  pay  for  it.  All  seem  to  hold  the 
Missionaries  in  high  estimation,  even  those 
who  are  not  Christians. 

"  On  arriving  here  I  met  with  a  disap- 
pointment. 1  thought  I  should  certainly 
find  two  or  three  letters,  and  some  N.  P. 
Heralds,  but  not  one  had  arrived.     It  is 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAP.         279 

six  weeks  since  I  had  a  letter  from  any- 
body." 


To  Mrs.  A.  G.  V.,  op  N.  P. 

"  Wapanucka,  July  25th. 
"  Before  this  reaches  you,  you  will 
undoubtedly  have  heard  of  my  safe  arrival 
here  two  weeks  since.  I  sent  off  ten  letters 
by  last  mail,  and  intended  to  have  added 
another  for  you,  but  deferred  it.  When 
the  session  commences,  I  do  not  expect  to 
write  many  letters,  as  I  presume  I  shall 
have  little  time  ;  so  now  I  write  an  hour 
or  two  every  morning  after  breakfast  and 
prayers.  I  generally  rise  a  little  before 
five  o'clock,  breakfast  a  quarter  before  six, 
then  we  have  prayers,  always  singing  a 
hymn  first,  which  I  enjoy  very  much. 
We  then  disperse,  and  I  stir  round  a  little 


280  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

for  exercise, — the  remainder  of  the  day 
I  read,  write,  and  sew.  We  cannot  walk 
out  in  the  morning  on  account  of  the 
heavy  dew,  and  afterwards  the  sun  is  too 
hot, — besides  which,  poisonous  snakes  and 
insects  make  it  dangerous, — so  riding  on 
horseback  is  the  usual  recreation,  when 
it  is  cool  enough.  This  week  the  weather 
has  been  quite  comfortably  cool,  and  I 
took  my  first  lesson  in  riding.  Mr.  Wilson 
and  two  ladies  rode  with  me  about  half 
a  mile  from  the  house,  to  a  neighboring 
bill,  from  which  there  was  a  delightfu.1 
prospect  across  a  prairie ;  returned  by  a 
longer  route,  so  I  rode  in  all  about  a  mile 
and  a  half.  I  felt  at  first  so  afraid  of  fall- 
ing off  at  every  step,  I  could  not  enjoy  it ; 
but  after  a  little  while  I  lost  the  appre- 
hension, and  expect  to  take  my  second 
lesson  this  evening. 

"  A  letter  from  N.  P.  this  week,  informs 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAP.  281 

me  that  Mr.  Vermilye  has  had  a  call, — 
to  what  place  is  not  mentioned,  but  I 
hoped  he  would  not  go,  as  I  dare  say  all 
the  people  do.  It  takes  so  long  for  letters 
to  come  here,  that  I  suppose  his  decision 
is  made  before  this  time,  and  I  can  only 
pray  for  submission  to  the  Divine  will, 
whatever  it  may  be.  I  know  he  would  not 
think  it  his  duty  to  go,  unless  the  indi- 
cations of  Providence  were  decisive ;  and 
whether  in  Newburyport,  or  some  other 
part  of  the  vineyard  of  Christ,  you  will 
always  be  beloved  by  me,  and  I  shall 
always  love  to  ask  for  you  the  richest 
blessings  of  God's  grace.  Yet  it  seems 
to  me  it  would  be  a  sad  thing  for  our 
church  to  be  deprived  of  its  pastor  just 
now,  when  the  repairs  are  being  made,  and 
of  course  there  is  a  more  unsettled  state 
of  affairs  than  has  existed  for  six  years. 
"  I  have   heard    but   one   sermon,   and 


282  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

two  expository  lectures  for  seven  Sabbaths, 
so  you  see  I  am  deprived  of  my  religious 
privileges  in  great  measure,  but  in  decid- 
ing to  come  here  I  counted  the  cost,  and 
see  no  reason  as  yet  to  regret  it.  If  the 
streams  are  cut  off,  the  Fountain  is  ever 
full ;  and  if  I  learn  to  repair  more  con- 
stantly to  that  I  shall  not  '  faint  by  the 
way.'  If  I  may  but  feed  some  lamb  and 
guide  it  to  the  Saviour's  fold,  what  sacri- 
fice can  be  considered  great  ?  I  have 
repeatedly  asked  the  ladies  here  if  they 
ever  regretted  coming,  and  they  all  say 
'  No.'  Amid  many  trials  they  have  much 
enjoyment. 

"  Tell  Mr.  V.  I  have  not  been  here  long 
enough  to  write  any  thing  for  monthly 
concert,  but  will  endeavor  to  do  so." 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  283 


To  Miss  E.  G.  of   N.  P. 

''July  28th. 
"  Accept   my  thanks  for  your  welcome 
letter.     It   was  very  kind  in   you  to  give 
me    so    many    particulars.     Every    word 
from   Newburyport  is    interesting.     I   re- 
joice  to   hear   that  the  influences   of  the 
Spirit  are   among  you, — that    there   were 
so    many   additions     to   the    church,    and 
that    the    meetings    are     so    interesting. 
When   I   saw  Mr.   V.   in  New   York,   he 
looked   so  feeble   I   was  afraid  he   would 
be   unable  to  do  much  when   he   return- 
ed, but  '  did  ever   any  trust  in  the  Lord 
and   was   confounded  ? '     I   trust    he  will 
not  leave  the  church  in  N.  P.  at  present; 
'  it  seems  to  me  it  would  be  a  very  great 
frown  of   Providence    upon   us,  for  he  is  a 
rich  treasure,  though  in  an  earthen  vessel, 


284  LIFE      AND     LETTERS 

that  the  excellency  of  the  power  may  be 
of  God,  I  miss  his  preaching  very  much, 
for  I  seldom  hear  any  here,  for  Mr.  Wil- 
son goes  several  miles  to  preach  to  the 
Chickasaws ;  but  in  deciding  to  come,  I 
expected  all  this,  and  if  I  can  only  draw 
nearer  to  the  Fountain,  which  is  always 
full  and  flowing,  I  shall  not  miss  the 
streams  so  much.  *  *  *         * 

"  Of  my  journey  here  you  have  prob- 
ably heard  through  others.  1  had  mer- 
cies every  moment,  and  can  only  wonder 
that  God  is  so  good  to  one  so  unworthy ; 
but  His  thoughts  and  ways  are  not  like 
ours.  The  vacation,  which  had  com- 
menced before  my  arrival,  gives  opportu- 
nity for  rest  and  preparation  for  our 
abundant  labors  when  the  session  com- 
mences in  October ;  and  though  some- 
times it  seems  as  if  I  had  not  enough  to 
do,  yet  in  this  warm  climate  we  could  not 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  285 

stand  constant  labor  through  the  sum- 
mer. I  do  not  mean  that  I  am  unem- 
ployed, for  this  is  not  the  case.  I  sew 
for  my  associates,  as  they  have  a  great 
deal  to  do,  and  read  and  write ;  take 
care  of  my  room,  and  do  some  other 
things  about  house  for  exercise.  Am 
learning  to  ride  on  horseback,  which  is 
very  important  here,  and  am  daily  gain- 
ing information  respecting  my  future 
labors. 

"  There  is  a  regularly  organized  church 
here,  but  I  prefer  to  remain  a  member 
of  our  church  in  Newburyport ;  for  there 
is  my  home,  though  for  a  few  years,  if 
the  Lord  will,  I  may  labor  here.  I  am 
daily  with  you  in  spirit,  and  am  as 
deeply  intei-ested  in  all  your  concerns, 
as  if  I  were  still  there.  I  trust  the 
young  members  of  the  church  will  be 
consistent   and    exemplary  in   their  lives. 


286  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

The  older  ones  must  watch  over  them 
in  love.  Am  glad  to  hear  of  the  Sab- 
bath school — that  my  former  class  at- 
tend. Give  my  love  to  them,  and  their 
teacher,  and  tell  them  I  hope  to  hear 
they  have  all  entered  on  the  service  of 
Christ.  Tell  Miss  W.,  with  my  love, 
that  she  lives  to  pray^  while  others  act, 
but  hers  is  the  most  p(Twerful  instru- 
ment.        *         *         *         * 

"  And  now,  dear  E.,  may  the  peace  of 
God,  which  passeth  understanding,  keep 
your  mind  and  heart  through  Christ 
Jesus,  and  under  all  your  daily  trials  may 
you  be  enabled  to  cast  all  your  care  on 
Him  who  careth  for  you,  and  the  desire 
of  your  heart  for  growth  in  grace  and 
conformity  to  the  image  of  Christ  be 
granted   you." 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  287 


To  Mrs.   J.   N.   C,   op  N.  P. 

"  July  27th. 

"  Mr.  Wilson  went  away  on  Friday 
to  attend  a  '  big  meeting,  '  as  they 
term  a  sacramental  meeting  here.  It  is 
held  about  twenty  miles  distant,  in  the 
open  air,  under  a  rude  arbor,  and  there 
these  children  of  the  forest,  listen  to  the 
preached  word  ;  and  there  receive  the 
emblems  of  the  broken  body  and  shed 
blood  of  that  Saviour,  to  whom  all  who- 
will,  may  come  and  receive  pardon  and 
eternal  life.  It  is  delightful  to  think 
that  in  these  '  ends  of  the  earth,'  we 
may  have  the  same  fellowship  with  the 
Father  and  with  his  Son,  Jesus  Christ, 
as  in  the  great  congregation  in  populous 
cities. 

"  This  morning,  at  family  worship,  Mr. 


288  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

McOarter,  one  of  our  farmers,  read  the 
twenty-fourth  of  Luke,  contahiing  the 
account  of  the  journey  to  Emmaus.  It 
was  a  favorite  chapter  of  my  grand- 
father Coombs,  and  I  was  carried  back 
to  the  days  of  my  cliildhood,  when  I 
frequently  heard  him  read  it  with  so 
much  feeling ;  and  then  I  remembered 
his  manner  in  prayer,  while  occasionally 
a  silent  tear  would  drop  down  upon 
his  drab  vest.  I  then  recollected  it  was 
in  his  arms  I  was  presented  in  infancy 
for  baptism,  and  could  not  but  feel  how 
much  I  am  indebted  for  his  prayers, 
and  those  of  my  sainted  mother,  as  the 
channel  through  which  I  have  received 
the  greatest  blessings ;  for  if  I  have  been 
made  a  partaker  of  the  saving  grace  of 
God,  '  the  wealth  of  sea  and  land  is 
but  a  toy  compared  with  this.' 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAP.  289 


To  Mrs.  E.  A.  G.,  op  N.  P, 

'''  August  2\st. 
"  It  is  just  six  weeks  to-day  since  I 
came  to  this  place.  The  only  reasons 
for  my  delay  in  writing  you,  are,  that  I 
knew  you  would  hear  from  others  of 
my  safe  arrival  here,  and  some  descrip- 
tion of  the  place ;  and  as  the  vacation 
had  commenced  before  I  came,  there  is 
little  to  write  about  here.  I  have  de- 
ferred it  in  the  hope  that  something 
would  occur  of  sufficient  interest  to 
form  the  subject  of  a  letter  ;  such  how- 
ever is  not  the  case.  During  vacation 
we  live  a  very  secluded  life,  the  extreme 
heat  not  allowing  us  to  go  out  much, 
and  we  have  very  little  company.  We 
are  remote  from  any  habitation,  and  see 
very  few  of  the  Chickasaws.     Mr.  Wilson 


290  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

is  away  a  large  part  of  the  time  on 
missionary  tours,  and  the  few  teachers 
who  remain  here,  are  my  only  associates. 
There  are  only  two  beside  myself  who 
usually  sit  together  in  the  day  time ; 
of  these,  one  is  just  getting  up  from  a 
severe  attack  of  chills  and  fever,  and 
the  other  had  a  similar  attack  a  week 
previous.  Neither  of  them  can  sit  up 
all  day.  One  of  them  has  been  five 
years  in  the  service  of  the  Board,  going 
home  once  to  recruit ;  the  other  has 
been  here  little  more  than  a  year.  One 
is  an  orphan,  the  other  is  fatlierless — 
both  well  educated,  and  loving  their 
field  of  labor,  though  of  course  they  find 
many  trials  in  it.  I  love  them  witli 
Christian  affection. 

''  My  dear  friend,  how  often  do  I  think 
of  you,  and  all  my  friends  in  New- 
buryport.     My     coming     away     has     not 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.         291 

weakened,  but  rather  strengthened  the 
ties  which  bind  me  to  them ;  and  every 
meeting  is  remembered  bv  me  with 
great  interest.  All  are  in  my  thoughts 
at  the  appointed  times,  and  I  fully  be- 
lieve I  am  not  forgotten,  when  you 
meet  in  the  social  circle  to  pray  for  a 
blessing  on  the  church  and  our  dear 
pastor;  and  I  trust  I  shall  always  be 
remembered  in  this  way ;  for  until  I 
came  on  Missionary  ground,  I  did  not 
fully  realize  how  much  we  all  needed 
to  be  upheld  by  the  prayers  of  the 
faithful.  *  *  *  I  presume  you  see 
Miss  B.  often.  I  send  many  thoughts 
to  Mount  Rural,  where  I  have  passed  so 
many  happy  days  and  weeks ;  but  hope 
the  few  years  I  may  be  permitted  to 
spend  in  this  wilderness,  may  be  more 
singly  devoted  to  the  advancement  of 
Christ's  cause,  and  some  of  these  Indian 


292  LIFE    AND    LETTEES 

girls  be  directed,  through  my  instru- 
mentality, to  the  '  Lamb  of  God  who 
taketh  away  the  sins  of  the  world.'  A 
short  time  before  the  close  of  the  school, 
many  of  them  were  much  concerned  for 
the  welfare  of  their  immortal  souls,  and 
we  hope  they  will  not  lose  their  im- 
pressions during  vacation.  I  miss  my 
religious  privileges,  having  heard  but  two 
sermons  preached  in  eleven  Sabbaths,  so 
do  you  all  profit  as  much  as  possible 
by  the  rich  means  of  grace  with  which 
you  are  favored." 


To   Miss   A.   P.,  of  N.   P. 

"  August  Slst. 
"  I    believe    my    thoughts    go    to   the 
place  of    my  nativity   more  on    the    Sab- 
bath, than    on    any  other    day.     I   think 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  293 

of  my  friends  first  as  assembled  in  the 
Sabbath  school,  and  then  uniting  in 
praise  and  prayer ;  and  then  the  classes 
at  their  recitations,  after  the  contribu- 
tion, and  then  the  closing  address  and 
hymn.  Next  I  think  of  you  in  the 
sacred  place  where  more  than  half  a 
century  since,  I  was  solemnly  dedicated 
to  God  in  baptism  by  a  believing 
mother,  in  the  arms  of  my  venerable 
and  excellent  grandfather ;  the  service 
being  performed  by  my  uncle,  Dr.  Dana. 
In  that  consecrated  house,  what  inesti- 
mable privileges  have  I  enjoyed  I  For 
nearly  thirty-seven  years  I  have  been  a 
communicant  in  that  church,  and  love 
to  think  of  the  sweet  seasons  enjoyed 
there,  though   all   unworthy. 

"And  have  you,  my  dear  A.,  been  per- 
mitted this  day,  to  worship  in  that 
ancient    house  ?     I  know    not   that   it   is 

20 


294  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

ready  for  worship,  for  my  last  letter 
spoke  of  the  repairs  as  if  but  just 
commenced,  and  referred  me  to  the 
Herald,  for  an  account  of  the  services, 
at   the   laying   of  the  corner-stone. 

"  How  different  have  been  the  place 
and  circumstances  of  our  worship  to- 
day !  Mr.  Wilson  preached  about  four 
miles  distant,  to  the  Indians  ;  and  Mrs. 
W.  and  I  went  on  horseback.  I  rode 
without  fear,  forded  a  creek,  stopping 
in  it  to  let  the  horse  drink,  mounted 
and  dismounted  without  assistance,  and 
enjoyed  the  delightful  ride  this  morning, 
meditating  on  the  great  event  which  this 
day  commemorates,  and  repeating  men- 
tally  the   quaint  lines   of  Herbert: 

'  This    day   my   Saviour   rose, 

And  did  enclose  this   lot  for  man, 
That  as  each  beast  its  manger  knows, 
Man  might   not   of  his  fodder   miss.' 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.         295 

"  When  we  readied  the  preaching  place, 
we  found  the  Sabbath  school  in  the 
midst  of  their  exercises ;  that  is,  read- 
ing in  the  Indian  language.  The  build- 
ing was  a  rude  log-cabin,  about  twenty- 
feet  square,  without  a  single  window ;  suf- 
ficient light  however  came  in  through  the 
open  door,  and  large  openings  between 
some  of  the  logs.  Directly  in  front, 
was  a  rude  arbor,  made  of  branches 
of  trees,  with  split  logs  laid  across 
other  whole  logs  for  seats.  When 
the  assembly  is  large,  and  the  weather 
very  warm,  the  meeting  is  held  under 
this  arbor,  but  as  this  day  was  delight- 
fully cool,  the  ground  somewhat  damp, 
and  not  quite  forty  persons  present,  it 
was  held  in  the  house.  Mr.  W.  gave 
out  the  Choctaw  hymns,  which  were 
read  by  his  interpreter;  for  they  have 
a  Choctaw  Bible   and    Hymn    Book,   and 


296  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

the  Chickasaw  aud  Choctaw  languages 
are  so  nearly  alike,  that  both  tribes 
understand  them.  Then  we  all  sung 
them,  for  I  can  read  the  book,  though 
I  do  not  know  the  meaning.  One  of 
the  Chickasaws  prayed  in  his  own 
language.  Mr.  W.,  and  Mr.  McCarter, 
prayed  in  English.  Mr.  McC.  is  one  of 
our  farmers,  a  Scotchman,  one  of  the 
very  best  of  men.  He  has  a  lovely 
wife  whose  example  is  very  consistent. 
Mr.  W.  spoke  through  an  interpreter, 
on  Christ  and  the  woman  of  Samaria. 
Tliere  were  adults  and  children  of  all 
ages  in  the  assembly,  which  was  smaller 
than  usual  on  account  of  the  annual 
Council,  which  met  last  week,  and  did 
not  close  until  midnight  last  evening, 
and  there  was  not  time  for  the  Indians 
to  reach  their  homes  in  season  for  the 
services   this   day." 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.         297 


To  Mrs.   J.  B.,  of  N.  P. 

"  September  11th. 

"  We  did  not  get  our  mail  until  this 
afternoon,  but  in  it  were  six  letters 
for  me,  and  I  have  had  a  feast,  for  I 
have  received  only  one  letter  for  a 
month.  Surely  I  thank  you  all  for  re- 
membering me  in  this  way,  as  well  as 
others,  for  letters  are  in  this  place  '  as 
cold  waters  to  a  thirsty  soul.  '  It  takes  a 
long  while  for  letters  to  get  here,  yet 
I  think  all  have  come  safely  to  me,  and 
several  papers  from  Mr.  M.,  and  one 
from  you  last  week,  giving  account  of 
the  laying  the  corner-stone,  which  was 
deeply  interesting  to  me,  as  is  every 
item  from  dear  Newburyport.      *    *     * 

"  But    I    shall   fill    ray    sheet    without 
answering  your   questions.     We  get   sup- 


298  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

plies,  groceries,  dry-goods,  &c.,  from 
Boggy  Depot,  where  two  Yankees  keep 
a  store.  They  get  their  stock  from  New 
York,  New  Orleans,  and  sometimes  from 
Texas.  We  are  but  fifty  miles  distant 
from  this  latter  place,  and  had  a  large 
wagon  load  of  nice  flour  from  thence 
recently.  We  raise  our  own  pork,  or 
most  of  it,  all  our  beef,  most  of  our 
poultry,  &c.,  make  butter  for  summer  use 
every  day,  purchase  for  the  winter — 
often  get  out  in  the  winter.  We  live 
very  comfortably,  and  I  relish  all  the 
food.  What  we  miss  most  are  vege- 
tables ;  the  grasshoppers  having  destroyed 
the  garden  for  two  years  past.  We  all 
have  a  room  to  ourselves,  and  a  large 
one,  seventeen  feet  square,  high  studded 
and  airy.  In  winter,  all  have  fires  in 
their  own  rooms,  because  there  is  no 
common    sitting-room  there,  but  in  sum 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  299 

mer  we  have  one  which  is  then  occupied 
by  the  girls.  We  have  the  Presbyterian 
and  New  York  Observer,  and  some  other 
publications  sent  here ;  there  is  also  quite 
a  Library,  so  that  we  can  read  a  good 
deal  in   vacation. 

"  The  girls  are  not  educated  specially 
for  teachers,  for  they  marry  so  young 
here,  we  want  to  fit  them  for  good  wives 
and  mothers,  and  hope  they  will  teach 
the  next  generation  what  they  know 
themselves.  Some  of  the  girls  have  re- 
cently been  to  see  us,  some  bringing 
peaches  as  a  present.  We  feel  anxious 
respecting  those  who  were  serious,  but 
our  hope  is  that  God  will  not  suffer 
them   to  grieve  the  Spirit  away  entirely. 

"This  morning,  Mrs.  Wilson,  Miss 
Barber,  and  I,  went  on  horseback  about 
four  miles,  to  visit  '  Aunt  Nancy  ; '  a  pious 
Chickasaw,   who,  with   her    husband,  was 


800  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

converted  before  they  were  removed  from 
Mississippi.  They  are  pretty  well  off  for 
worldly  things — have  a  comfortable  cabin, 
good  farm,  plenty  of  cattle,  ponies,  &c. 
She  was  much  pleased  to  see  us — had  water 
and  nutmeg-melons,  and  fine  peaches, 
for  our  refreshment.  She  has  no  chil- 
dren ;  but  has  adopted  several, — two 
young  ones  are  now  under  her  care ; 
the  little  girls  come  here  to  school.  We 
had  a  delightful  ride,  sometimes  through 
the  woods  with  only  a  bridle-path — then 
we  would  emerge  into  a  rolling  prairie, 
diversified  with  small  groves  of  trees, 
under  the  shade  of  which,  the  cattle 
were  resting.  We  crossed  three  creeks, 
which  had  quite  steep  descents  and 
ascents,  but  I  did  not  mind  it  at  all,  as 
the  horses  are  so  gentle,  and  the  real 
Missionary  horse  which  I  ride,  is  so 
careful  in    going    down    hill,  and    up    the 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAP.  301 

steep  banks.  *  *  *  j  jQj^g  ^q  j^gg^j. 
that  our  house  is  finished,  and  worship 
regularly  performed  there,  yet  I  rejoice 
that  the  church  have  worshiped  at  Mr. 
C's,  because  I  think  it  will  promote  kind 
feelings,  and  union  I  always  love ;  you 
know  my  darling  mother  did.  It  was 
kind  in  you  to  mention  my  mother's 
grave.  You  cannot  doubt  I  often  think  of 
it,  and  also  of  that  of  my  dear  William  in 
Illinois,  but  I  never  have  any  gloomy 
associations  with  them.  They  rest  sweetly 
there,  in  hope  of  a  glorious  resurrection, 
and  their  spirits  are  present  with  the  Lord. 
"  My  health  continues  to  be  very  good, 
though  all  the  ladies  but  one  have  had 
chills  and  fever,  and  some  of  them 
several  attacks.  One  is  just  getting  over 
a  severe  one,  she  is  a  very  slender  person, 
but  has  great  spirits,  and  may  outlive 
many  others. 


302  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 


"  Dear  M.,  do  not  think  so  well  of  me, 
bnt  ask  that  I  may  liave  more  grace.  I 
am  quite  mortified  to  have  such  scrawls 
as  mine  go  the  rounds,  as  you  tell  me 
they  do ;  and  as  for  Tommy  Vs  letter,  it 
was  solely  for  his  amusement,  and  too 
flat  for  anybody  else." 


TO     THE     SAME. 

"  September  2A.th. 
"  Yours  of  the  25th  came  on  Saturday, 
with  three  others,  so  that  I  had  a  great 
treat.  How  kind  it  was  in  you  to  send 
that  sprig  from  my  mother's  grave  !  I  keep 
it  in  my  large  Testament,  (it  was  hers) 
close  by  the  text,  '  Blessed  are  the  dead 
that  die  in  the  Lord,'  &c.  I  am  so  glad 
a  rose-bush   is  on  her  grave,  she   was  so 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  303 

fond  of  roses.  I  deeply  regret  I  did  not 
have  a  small  white  fence  put  round  the 
lot  in  which  my  parents  and  grand- 
parents lie,  it  is  such  a  difficult  spot  to 
find,  and  if  I  live  until  spring,  think  I 
shall  direct  our  sexton  to  place  one 
there. 

"  I  cannot  do  as  you  wish,  that  is, 
send  you  a  leaf  from  a  plant  under  my 
window,  for  none  grows  there.  This 
house  is  not  only  built  of  limestone  but 
on  it,  so  there  is  no  soil  for  plants  within 
some  yards  of  it,  and  the  back  yard, 
upon  which  my  room  looks,  has  nothing 
green,  but  twenty  oak  trees.  In  front  of 
the  house,  at  a  little  distance,  the 
flowers  are  numerous,  though  few  of 
them  make  much  show  when  pressed. 
On  Monday,  I  went  out  for  some  passion 
flowers  —  to  my  great  disappointment, 
not  any  could  be  found,  all   had  gone   to 


304  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

seed.  One  of  the  ladies  has  given  me 
one  which  she  pressed,  and  I  will  send 
that,  thongh  its  beauty  is  very  much 
gone.  The  kind  we  have  here,  is  diiTer- 
ent  from  those  I  have  seen  at  home ; 
the  color  is  lilac,  and  the  leaves  are 
fringed,  and  it  is  not  as  pretty  as  those, 
yet  when  they  are  in  full  bloom  they 
are  handsome. 

"  I  have  written  more  than  fifty  let- 
ters since  I  came,  yet  I  have  not  written 
to  all  I  promised,  because  I  think  there 
will  be  more  to  write  about  after  school 
commences. 

"  Still  I  shall  have  very  little  time 
then,  so  if  friends  do  not  hear  often,  I 
hope  they  will  excuse  me  and  write 
themselves.  We  have  a  good  deal  to  do 
yet,  to  prepare  for  the  school.  I  expect  to 
have  the  care  of  thirty-three  girls  out  of 
school — shall  have  to  cut  and  fit  at  least 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAP.  305 

a  hundred  dresses  for  them,  and  teach 
them  to  make  them  properly,  besides 
teaching  them  cleanliness  and  almost 
all  domestic  duties,  and  giving  them 
religious  and  moral  instruction.  You 
will  ask  that  I  may  have  grace  and 
strength  equal  to  my  day.  Hitherto  my 
health  has  been  excellent,  and  my 
courage  has  not  failed.  I  cannot  but 
rejoice  I  am  here,  and  hope  some  souls 
will  be  savingly  benefited  by  my  feeble 
instrumentality,  and  if  so,  how  trifling 
are   all   the   self-denials    to  be    endured ! 


To  Miss  A.  P.,  of  N.  P. 

"  September  28ih. 
"Your  letter  of  the  20th  ult.  was  re- 
ceived  the  20th.      Many    thanks    for    it. 
Yesterday   the  mail  came,  but  no  letter 


806  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

for  me.  This  was  a  disappointment,  but  I 
doubt  not  there  are  several  on  the  way. 
"We  all  watch  eagerly  for  the  mail,  and 
surround  Mr.  Wilson  when  he  takes  out 
the  letters  ;  so  you  see  we  are  selfish  in 
this  respect. 

"  We  have  all  been  very  busy  for  several 
days,  preparing  for  the  return  of  the  schol- 
ars on  Wednesday  next.  I  believe  I  wrote 
you  that  I  am  to  have  the  care  of  thirty- 
three  girls  out  of  school,  cut  and  fit  their 
garments,  teach  them  to  make  and  mend 
them,  and  try  to  be  what  a  mother  ought 
to  be  to  them.  If  sick,  I  must  take  care 
of  them  by  night  as  well  as  by  day ;  so 
you  perceive  my  hands  and  heart  will  be 
full.  Yet  I  look  forward  to  these  labors 
without  apprehension,  trusting  that  the 
Omnipotent  and  Omnipresent  Saviour  will 
bo  near  to  succor  and  sustain, — that  His 
grace  will  be  sufficient  for  me,  and   the 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.         307 


seed  I  may  sow  in  these  dark  minds  may 
spring   up   and   bear   fruit   to    His   glory. 
That  there  will  be  many  trials  in  the  way  ; 
that  the  native  depravity  of  the  heart  will 
be  often  developed,  is  certain  ;  yet  I  also 
believe  that  the  Holy  Spirit,  in  answer  to 
prayer,  can  renew  these  hearts  as  well  as 
others,   and  make   some   or   all   of    them 
willing   to  believe    in   Christ.      That   the 
church  in    Newburyport   prays     for    this 
Mission,  in   connection  with  one  of  their 
number  here,  is   a  great   encouragement, 
since   God  is  the  hearer  of  prayer.     Let 
them  be  more   importunate,  and  perhaps 
they  may  see  in  eternity  that  their  prayers 
were   the   most  powerful    instrumentality 
employed  for  the  conversion  of  souls  here." 

"  October  M.  Our  scholars  come  in  very 
slowly, — it  is  natural  to  the  Indians  to  be 
sluggish  in  their  movements  ;  yet  I  have 


J 


808  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

been  very  busy  all  the  week.  I  have 
moved  into  the  third  story  as  my  girls 
all  sleep  there,  and  I  prefer  being  near 
them  in  the  night,  so  that  if  any  are  sick, 
I  can  step  into  their  rooms  at  once.  There 
is  much  to  do  at  first  in  mending  their 
clothes,  and  tliere  are  many  to  make ; 
and  though  they  are  required  to  do  a 
large  part  of  their  sewing,  yet  to  cut 
and  fit  all  their  garments,  is  not  a  small 
affair.  But  I  did  not  come  here  to  live 
at  my  ease,  and  I  rejoice  to  labor  for  these 
red  children,  and  train  them  up  in  the 
way  they  should  go.  I  have  one  among 
them  who  is  sixteen  years  old,  and  seems 
to  be  a  very  good  girl,  and  there  is  some 
reason  to  hope  she  is  a  Christian. 

"  They  have  all  gone  to  bed  now,  so 
I  finish  this  letter,  expecting  to  send  it  to 
the  depot  tomorrow.  I  enclose  a  yellow 
sensitive  plant,   a  verbena,   and    a   small 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAP.  309 


flower  like  a  pea,  which  I  like  very  much. 
Verbenas  bloom  in  every  direction,  though 
I  have  seen  but  two  colors,  red  (not 
scarlet),  and  purple, — the  last  have  dif- 
ferent green  leaves  from  the  others.  All 
tell  me  the  spring  flowers  are  much  prettier 
than  the  autumnal  ones." 


To  Miss  M.  P.  S.,  of  N.  P. 

''October  5th. 
"  Yours  mailed  August  26th,  and  Sep- 
tember 2d,  came  last  evening  in  company 
with  te?i  others,  all  from  Newburyport. 
I  thank  every  one  of  you  most  heartily 
for  writing.  Last  week  I  had  not  one 
letter,  such  is  the  uncertainty  of  the  mails 
here,  and  I  am  told,  that  sometimes  in 
winter,  no  mail  arrives  for  seven  weeks, 
so  if  you  do  not  hear  from  me  every  week, 
do  not  be  anxious. 

21 


310  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

"  We  expect  a  fresh  arrival  of  girls 
tomorrow  morning.  They  began  to  come 
last  Monday  ;  but  not  a  third  part  have 
come  as  yet.  This  is  a  great  mercy  to 
us,  for  if  they  all  poured  in  in  a  day, 
we  should  be  in  such  confusion,  we 
should  find  it  difficult  to  get  along.  I 
have  only  six  as  yet,  the  youngest  nine 
or  ten,  eldest  sixteen ;  and  my  whole 
Sabbath,  except  when  they  were  in  Sab- 
bath school,  and  an  hour  early  in  the 
morning,  has  been  devoted  to  them.  We 
had  meeting  in  the  morning,  but  1  must 
have  my  eye  upon  them  all  the  time. 
Those  who  have  the  care  of  them  out  of 
school  during  the  week,  do  Jiot  teach  in 
the  Sabbath  school ;  but  I  keep  a  kind  of 
maternal  school  the  remainder  of  the  day. 
Oh  !  if  the  Holy  Spirit  only  visits  us  here, 
and  turns  the  current  of  their  minds  from 
sin  to  holiness,  how  delightful  it  will  be. 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  311 

'Tis  ours  to  sow  the  seed  in  their  young 
hearts,  but  God  giveth  the  increase. 

"  We  are  disappointed  with  regard  to 
another  teacher, — the  Board  could  not 
find  one  for  us.  One  of  our  number,  Miss 
Lee,  returned  last  evening ;  she  has  been 
here  one  year,  and  is  very  healthy.  Not 
an  hour's  sickness  have  I  had  since  I  came 
here  ;  indeed  I  have  not  been  so  well  in 
summer  for  many  years,  as  I  have  been 
the  past.  A  strong  body  is  needed  here, 
as  well  as  many  other  qualifications.  There 
is  a  great  lack  of  laborers, — all  the  stations 
within  twenty  miles  or  more,  need  females, 
but  none  can  be  found  willing  to  come. 

"  If  I  had  not  a  multitude  of  corres- 
pondents, I  would  try  to  write  you  more. 
I  have  them  in  Maine,  New  Hampshire, 
New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Illinois, 
and  Arkansas,  as  well  as  in  several  towns 
in  my  native  state,  besides  Newburyport, 


312  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

SO  you  must  take  this  into  account  if  you 
get  few  and  meagre  letters. 

"  The  Missions  in  this  territory  are  suf- 
fering for  laborers,  as  I  have  already  said. 
The  school  at  Tallahasse  cannot  be  com- 
menced at  present  for  want  of  teachers, 
and  all  the  stations  need  more  ;  for  those 
on  the  ground  are  obliged  to  over-work, 
and  then  their  health  fails,  and  many 
return  before  the  expiration  of  three  years. 
Oh  !  that  the  members  of  our  churches 
were  more  self-sacrificing, — that  they 
thought  less  of  their  own  ease  and  enjoy- 
ment, and  were  ready  to  endure  hardness 
as  good  soldiers  of  Christ.  Oh  !  may  the 
time  soon  come  when  a  more  genuine  and 
enlarged  benevolence  shall  pervade  the 
church,  and  whether  at  home  or  abroad 
all  shall  be  intent  on  the  salvation  of  the 
lost." 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF. 


313 


To  Mrs.  J.  B.,  of  N.  P. 


''October  1th. 
"  Yours  of  the  5th  ult.,  came  the  4th 
instant,  in  company  with  eleven  other 
letters,  two  Heralds,  and  a  Presbyterian 
paper  from  Pittsburg.  You  can  imagine 
what  a  feast  I  had,  though  I  could  not 
read  them  for  two  hours,  as  it  was  Satur- 
day evening,  and  I  had  to  have  the  girls 
thoroughly  washed,  and  see  them  all  in 
bed  before  I  could  gratify  myself  with 
their  perusal.  The  week  before,  I  had 
not  one  letter,  so  uncertain  are  the  mails 
in  this  part  of  the  country.  You  have 
probably  received  two  from  me,  and  others 
also  have  heard,  for  never  but  once  has 
the  mail  gone  without  letters  from  me, 
and  though  I  shall  have  little  time  for 
writing  now,  I  think  I  can  write  one  or 


314  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

two  weekly.  From  my  heart  I  thank  you 
for  writing  so  much,  and  so  often,  and 
only  regret  I  can  make  so  poor  returns. 

"  I  have  not  quite  half  my  number  of 
girls  as  yet,  for  they  come  in  very  slowly, 
three  or  four  a  day.  Sluggishness  is  one 
of  the  Indian  characteristics.  It  is  a  mercy 
to  us  that  they  come  gradually,  for  if  all 
poured  in  at  once,  we  should  be  over- 
whelmed with  the  pressure.  Thus  far  I  have 
got  along  very  well ;  my  health  continues 
unimpaired,  and  I  am  able  to  do  a  great 
deal.  The  first  month  is  generally  the 
hardest,  unless  there  be  sickness,  which 
is  not  uncommon,  when  we  have  nursing 
by  night  and  day,  added  to  our  other 
cares.  However,  I  trust  for  daily  strength 
for  daily  duties.  I  have  been  perfectly 
contented  ever  since  I  came  ;  have  pleasant 
society  in  the  house,  and  do  not  hanker 
for  any  external  enjoyment.     I  have  gone 


MARY     C.      GREENLEAP.  815 

into  the  third  story,  because  the  girls 
sleep  there,  and  my  room  is  far  more 
pleasant  than  the  one  I  have  occupied. 
It  fronts  the  north-east,  so  that  I  can  see 
the  sun  rise,  and  there  is  an  extensive 
prospect  across  the  prairies, — hills  rise  in 
the  distance,  and  I  could  easily  fancy  the 
blue  line,  miles  off,  to  be  the  ocean,  did  I 
not  know  to  the  contrary.  You  ask  if  I 
can  see  any  water  ?  I  cannot.  There  is  a 
large  creek  at  a  short  distance,  but  the 
high  banks  on  each  side  do  not  permit  it 
to  be  seen  from  the  house,  or  until  we 
are  close  to  it.  It  was  so  swollen  by  the 
abundant  rains  in  August,  that  we  all  went 
down  to  see  it ;  and  Ball,  my  good  horse, 
came  near  drowning  in  it,  when  Mr.  Mc- 
Carter  attempted  to  cross  next  day. 

"  My  sitting-room  is  in  the  second  story. 
There  I  sit  with  the  children,  when  they 
are  out  of  school,  and  indeed  almost  all 


316  LIFE     AND    LETTERS 

day  I  am  there,  fitting  their  work,  mend- 
ing their  clothes, — for  the  girls  are  so 
unskillful  in  this  last  kind  of  work,  I 
must  do  it  generally  myself; — but  you 
know  I  like  to  be  busy,  and  if  I  can 
only  '  be  fervent  in  spirit,'  while  '  diligent 
in  business,'  it  will  be  well. 

"  My  girls  go  to  bed  at  eight  o'clock. 
I  have  some  bright-eyed  ones,  whose  happy 
faces  are  a  comfort, — others  look  dull  and 
intractable ; — had  two  new  ones  to-day, 
who  cannot  understand  a  word  of  English, 
but  who  behave  admirably  well.  This 
evening  in  their  working  hour,  I  repeated 
several  of  Watts'  Divine  Songs,  and  when 
that  verse  came  : — 

'  There's  not  a  sin  that  we  commit, 
Or  wicked  word  we  say,'  &c., 

many  an  eye  was  turned  upon  me  with 
great  interest.     Our  principal  hope  of  use- 


MAEY     C.     GEEENLEAP.  317 

fulness  is  from  influencing  the  children ; 
so  do  be  '  instant  in  prayer '  for  us,  that 
the  Holy  Spirit  may  renew  and  sanctify 
these  vouna;  hearts." 


To  Mrs.  J.  N.  C,  of  N.  P. 

"  October  19th. 
"  Our  school  is  not  full  yet, — it  gen- 
erally takes  a  month  to  collect  all  the 
scholars.  I  have  plenty  to  do,  but  can 
do  it  all  cheerfully,  and  am  contented  in 
my  situation,  never  having  regretted  com- 
ing, but  rather  rejoice  that  I  am  permitted 
to  do  these  humble  services  for  Christ. 
This  morning,  Mr.  Wright,  a  Choctaw, 
who  was  educated  in  New  York,  and  who 
is  a  very  intelligent  and  interesting  man, 
and  an  ordained  minister,  preached  in 
Choctaw,   from — '  As  Moses  lifted  up  the 


318  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

serpent  in  the  wilderness,'  &c.  He  gave 
out  the  text  in  English, — that  was  all  we 
could  understand.  Mr.  Wilson  instructs 
the  girls  for  three-quarters  of  an  hour  in 
the  afternoon  every  Sabbath,  when  he  is 
at  home,  and  they  are  as  easily  managed 
as  any  children,  and  some  of  them  who 
cannot  speak  a  word  of  English,  would  be 
patterns  of  obedience  to  many  children  in 
the  states.  A  little  one,  whom  I  have 
named  Jane  Greenleaf,  for  my  beloved 
mother,  is  a  dear  little  girl,  who  tries  to 
do  exactly  as  I  direct  her. 

"  The  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  supper 
is  to  be  administered  here  next  Sabbath 
for  the  first  time  since  I  came.  On  these 
occasions  it  is  usual  to  have  services  on 
Saturday  as  well  as  Sunday.  Several 
ministers  are  expected  to  be  present,  and 
we  hope  the  Holy  Spirit  will  be  specially 
with  us. 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAP.         319 

"  I  enclose  a  leaf  of  a  cedar  tree,  which 
seems  to  grow  out  of  a  solid  rock ;  also  a 
prairie  queen,  and  a  green  leaf  of  one 
kind  of  sensitive  plant. 

"  Our  church  seems  to  be  a  very  long 
time  in  repairing.  I  hope  it  will  be  done 
thoroughly,  and  that  there  will  be  a  liberal 
spirit  in  paying  for  it ;  for  is  it  not  a  priv- 
ilege to  give  liberally  for  the  house  of 
God,  and  for  the  promotion  of  the  cause 
of  Christ  ?  I  often  wonder  if  we  do  feel 
as  Watts  expresses  it : — 

'  Yet  if  I  might  make  some  reserve, 

And  duty  did  not  call ; 
I  love  my  God  with  zeal  so  great, 

That  I  should  give  Him  all.' 

In  singing  that  verse,  I  have  often  feared 
for   myself,   there   is   so   much  selfishness 
and  love  of  ease  to  be  crucified. 
"  There  were  two  little  white  boys  be- 


320  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

longing  to  a  carpenter,  who  was  here  for 
a  short  time,  who  came  to  me  twice  a 
day  to  be  taught  reading  and  spelling, 
and  to  receive  such  instruction  from  the 
Bible  and  Catechism,  as  I  could  give  them. 
I  felt  glad  to  have  this  door  of  usefulness 
opened  to  me  during  vacation." 


To  Miss  S.  T.,  op  N.  P. 

''October  SOth. 
"  You  must  have  thought  me  very  neg- 
ligent and  ungrateful,  not  to  have  written 
you  before.  The  truth  is,  that  in  vacation 
there  was  so  little  to  write  about,  I  thought 
I  had  better  wait  until  school  commenced, 
and  since  then  I  have  been  so  fully  occu- 
pied I  could  not  spare  time.  I  have  now, 
I  believe,  ten  unanswered  letters  by  me, 
but  I   am  determined  to   write   you   not- 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  321 

withstanding,  tliough  I  may  be  obliged 
to  do  so  at  several  sittings.  My  depart- 
ment here  is  to  take  care  of  girls  out  of 
school,  and  when  the  wliole  number,  one 
hundred,  comes  in,  I  exjDect  to  have  thirty- 
three  under  my  care.  The  Missionary 
Board  clothe  them  all,  sending  out  an- 
nually materials  for  this  purpose.  But 
that  you  may  understand  what  the  work 
is,  I  will  enter  into  detail. 

"  The  bell  rings  at  half-past  five  in  the 
morning,  when  all  rise.  The  children 
sleep  in  the  third  story,  as  I  also  do.  As 
soon  as  they  are  dressed,  they  go  down 
into  the  second  story  where  they  have 
a  sitting-room,— there  is  a  large  piazza 
running  the  whole  length  of  the  building 
in  the  rear  ;  on  this  they  wash  and  prepare 
for  appearing  in  the  dining-room  at  break- 
fast, a  quarter  before  seven.  I  appoint 
two  of  the  girls  weekly,  for  housekeeping 


822  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

ill  the  sitting-room,  and  they  make  the 
fire,  sweep  and  dust  the  room.  Two  also 
take  care  of  the  bed-room,  all  the  girls 
making  their  own  beds,  the  others  sweep- 
ing the  room  and  stairs.  I  remain  in  my 
own  room  until  about  ten  minutes  before 
the  breakfast  bell  rings,  when  I  go  down 
to  see  that  all  are  ready;  some  having 
neglected  to  wash  and  comb  their  hair, 
must  be  sent  to  do  it.  At  breakfast,  one 
of  the  large  girls  pours  out  the  coffee  at 
one  end  of  the  long  table,  (designed  for 
sixteen  girls),  and  I  sit  at  the  other  end 
to  help  to  the  food,  and  see  that  they 
behave  properly.  Prayers  immediately 
after  breakfast,  preceded  by  reading  a 
chapter  in  the  Bible,  and  singing  a  hymn. 
After  a  short  recess,  the  girls  repair  to 
the  sitting-room  to  sew,  until  fifteen 
minutes  before  nine,  when  they  have  a 
recess  of  a  quarter  of  an  hour  before  school, 


MARY     C.     GREENLEA5.  323 

which  begins  at  nine,  and  closes  at  twelve. 
Dinner  soon  after,  when  all  play  out  of 
doors  until  school  at  half  past  one,  which 
lasts  until  half-past  four.  Supper  at  five, 
then  family  worship,  then  play  until  dark, 
when  they  come  in  to  sew  for  an  hour 
or  two.  At  eight  o'clock  I  see  them  all 
in  their  comfortable  beds,  after  saying 
their  prayers ;  and  then  if  they  are  not 
sick,  I  have  no  more  to  do  for  them. 
While  they  are  at  school  or  at  play,  I  am 
fitting  work  for  them,  and  finishing  oif 
garments,  and  mending  a  great  deal,  which 
they  cannot  do  themselves.  I  have  con- 
stant opportunities  to  impart  moral  and 
religious  instruction  to  them  during  the 
week  ;  and  on  the  Sabbath  I  give  up  all 
my  time  to  them  except  when  they  are 
in  meeting  or  Sabbath  school ;  and  even 
in  meeting  I  must  look  after  them,  to  keep 
them  in  order.     They  are  naturally  wild. 


324  »LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

and  being  accustomed  at  home  to  live 
without  any  order,  it  takes  time  to  bring 
them  into  subjection.  Under  my  care  I 
have  six  wlio  liave  grown  to  womanhood, 
most  of  the  others  are  under  twelve  years. 
Two  of  our  large  girls  were  seriously 
impressed  nearly  a  year  since  ;  and  Mr. 
Wilson  thinks  they  give  very  satisfactory 
evidence  of  a  change  of  heart.  Of  course 
they  are  but  '  babes  in  Christ,'  and  need 
to  be  instructed  in  the  doctrines  and  duties 
of  religion.  I  commend  them,  and  all 
of  us  to  your  prayers,  for  we  all  need 
them.  In  coming  to  this  place  we  have 
not  come  out  of  the  reach  of  temptation, 
or  of  our  great  adversary  ;  we  all  bring 
the  remains  of  our  original  depravity,  and 
must  maintain  a  constant  warfare  with 
our  own  sins,  as  much  as  at  home ;  and 
we  need  great  grace  to  enable  us  to  dis- 
charge our  duties  aright.     Yet  I  am  glad 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.         325 

I  came,  and  have  much  reason  for  grati- 
tude that  my  health  and  strength  have 
been  continued,  while  most  of  the  ladies 
have  suffered  a  good  deal  from  chills  and 
fever,  which  is  the  disease  of  the  climate, 
and  from  which  few  are  exempted.  The 
children  frequently  have  chills,  and  then 
nursing  is  added  to  my  other  duties ;  still 
I  enjoy  my  labors,  and  have  been  more 
uniformly  contented  here,  than  I  have 
since  the  death  of  my  dear  mother.  In 
vacation  I  read  a  good  deal,  and  enjoyed 
the  '  Gospel  in  Ezekiel '  very  much.  Have 
little  time  now  to  read  any  thing  but  the 
Book  of  books,  the  Bible. 

22 


326  LIFE      AND     LETTERS 


To  Mrs.  C.  B,,  op  Boston. 

"  November  \st. 
"  On  the  last  Sabbath  we  had  the  com- 
munion here.  The  meeting  is  often  held 
in  a  rude  bower ;  but  on  account  of  the 
dampness  of  tho  ground,  it  was  held  in 
our  largest  school-room.  There  were 
thirty  or  forty  Indians  present,  besides  our 
scholars,  and  two  of  our  largest  girls,  and 
an  elderly  Indian  woman,  were  baptized, 
and  admitted  to  the  church.  Two  infants 
also  were  baptized.  An  Indian,  wlio  is 
an  elder  in  the  cliurcb,  assisted  in  the 
distribution  of  the  elements.  It  was  a 
season  of  much  interest  and  solemnity.  It 
was  the  first  time  I  had  attended  a  com- 
munion in  this  territory,  and  it  is  always 
delightful  to  recognize  '  the  tie  that  binds 
our  hearts  in  Christian  love.' 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.         327 

"  One  pretty  little  girl  came  to  us  with- 
out a  name,  and  I  call  her  Jane  Green- 
leaf  for  my  mother.  May  her  mantle  fall 
upon  the  dear  child.  She  understands 
my  smile,  and  a  pat  on  her  head,  as  marks 
of  approbation,  and  is  very  obedient,  so 
far  as  she  understands  my  directions.  The 
children  are  generally  silent  in  my  pres- 
ence, and  seldom  speak  to  me,  except  in 
a  whisper.  This  afternoon  thoy  were  play- 
ing out  of  doors,  and  as  I  sat  writing,  with 
the  door  open,  a  little  smiling  face  peeped 
in,  and  when  I  inquired,  '  What  is  it, 
Ann  Eliza  ? '  she  ran  in  and  put  a  few 
berries  in  my  hand,  and  then  ran  out 
smiling,  though  she  spoke  not  a  word. 
They  are  affectionate,  and  sometimes  come 
and  stroke  my  hair,  or  manifest  affection 
in  other  ways,   wliich  is  very  pleasant." 


328  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 


To  Mrs.  H.  S.,  of  N.  P. 

"  November  \bth. 

"  Your  very  kind  letter  deserved  an 
earlier  acknowledgment,  which  would  have 
been  made,  had  I  not  waited  for  time  to 
write  a  long  letter,  but  as  I  see  no  prospect 
of  this  at  present,  I  write  at  a  late  hour 
this  evening,  that  I  may  send  on  Monday 
to  the  depot. 

"  We  have  had  sickness  among  our 
girls  ever  since  they  came.  During  the 
last  week,  several  severe  cases  of  dysentery 
have  occurred  ;  not  among  the  girls  under 
my  care  however,  owing  perhaps  to  the 
prayers  of  friends  in  Newburyport.  Their 
sickness  has  been  slight.  Jane  Greenleaf 
has  been  ill,  but  soon  got  better.  She  is 
very  quick  of  apprehension,  and  I  make 
her   comprehend     my    commands,    though 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  329 

she  does  not  understand  English.  It  is 
quite  amusing  to  witness  their  attempts 
to  do  as  they  are  told. 

"  The  weather  here  is  very  changeable. 
Last  week  we  had  some  very  cold  weather, 
and  ice.  formed  out  of  doors  ;  yet  this  week 
has  been  most  delightful,  and  we  are  glad 
of  open  doors  and  windows.  The  winters 
though  short,  are  quite  cold,  and  as  this 
house  is  not  tight,  I  have  felt  the  cold 
more  than  I  have  for  years  ;  and  all  tell 
me  they  suffer  more  from  cold  here  than 
at  the  north,  owing  to  the  want  of  Yankee 
habits  and  thrift. 

"  The  post-office  is  at  Boggy  Depot,  which 
is  not  a  railroad  depot,  but  was  formerly 
a  military  one,  being  near  Boggy  river, 
from  which  it  takes  its  name.  It  is  twelve 
miles  distant,  and  there  are  several  creeks 
between  us,  and  whenever  it  rains  the 
mails     are    uncertain,    as    there    are    no 


330  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 


bridges,  and  generally  no  ferry-boats,  and 
the  mail  is  transported  on  horse-back,  and 
the  creeks  are  too  much  swollen  to  be 
forded.  I  fear  I  tell  the  same  things 
twice,  as  I  cannot  remember  what  I  wrote 
last  time,  but  I  wish  my  friends  to  under- 
stand that  the  mails  are  uncertain,  that 
anxiety  may  be  avoided." 


To  Miss  E.  G.,  of  N.  P. 

"  December  I'ith. 
"  Winter  has  commenced  here,  though 
the  Indians  say  it  is  quite  early.  The 
girls  seem  very  sensitive  to  cold,  for 
although  at  home,  they  live  in  open  houses, 
and  go  barefooted  all  winter ;  yet  here 
with  very  warm  clothing,  they  hover  round 
the  stove,  and  seem  to  suffer  more  than 
poor   children   at   the   north.     Mine   have 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAP.  331 

been  sick  the  last  week,  and  as  they  gen- 
erally cry  and  moan  a  great  deal  when 
any  thing  is  the  matter,  it  is  quite  trying 
to  know  how  much  attention  to  give 
them. 

"  Our  house  is  so  poorly  built,  it  has 
seemed  impossible  some  days  to  get  it 
warm  ;  and  in  the  evening  when  the  girls 
sew,  I  have  contrived  to  get  them  the 
warmest  places  in  the  room,  and  been 
'  content  to  quake,  so  they  be  warm.' 

"  Jane  Greenleaf  is  full  of  fun  and 
frolic.  She  is  always  ready  for  a  race  ; 
and  to  bring  wood  or  any  thing  else  to 
me  up  in  the  third  story,  seems  to  be 
her  delight.  Often  does  slie  meet  me  in 
the  entry,  as  1  am  coming  up,  and  putting 
her  hands  in  my  arms,  begs  to  go  for 
wood,  and  when  I  say  '  yes,'  bounds  off 
perfectly  delighted.  She  learns  quite  fast, 
and  is  quite  pretty  in  the  face.     Though 


832  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

at  first  I  was  almost  sorry  I  had  given 
her  my  motlier's  name,  because  slie  did 
many  naughty  tilings,  I  do  not  regret  it 
now,  as  she  has  improved  very  much. 
She  and  the  other  children  are  now  in 
the  room,  jabbering  away  in  Chickasaw, 
and  examining  every  nook  and  'corner, 
and  as  all  are  pilferers,  I  have  to  watch 
them  as  I  write.  They  are  delighted  with 
pictures,  particularly  Daguerreotypes,  and 
I  often  hear  little  feet  on  the  stairs,  and 
a  rap  at  my  door,  and  three  or  four  little 
girls  smilingly  ask  if  they  may  stay  awhile  ; 
this  is  during  play  hours,  when  one  would 
think  the  woods  would  have  more  charms 
for  them  than  any  room.'' 


MARY     C.     GEEENLEAF.  333 


To  Miss  M.  P.  S.,  of  N.  P. 

"  December  '2>^th. 
"  One  of  my  girls  ran  away  in  company 
with  several  others  from  another  depart- 
ment, and  has  not  returned.  No  reason 
can  he  assigned  for  their  going,  except 
the  usual  love  of  their  homes,  and  their 
dislike  to  restraint,  for  mine  had  not  been 
punished  at  all.  It  was  a  long  way  for 
her  to  go  to  her  home  on  foot,  but  they 
do  not  mind  that,  if  disposed  to  depart. 
Generally  the  children  are  wild  and 
thoughtless,  but  I  am  deeply  interested  in 
them,  and  labor  on  cheerfully ;  and  in 
faitli  that  some  seed  will  spring  up,  and 
bear  fruit  to  life  eternal,  though  it  may 
not  be  until  I  am  laid  in  the  grave." 


334  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

To  Miss  S.  S.,  op  Boston. 

"  December  1M. 

"  *  *  *  Your  letter  is  too  kind, 
that  is,  you  entirely  over-estimate  me. 
I  doubt  not  you  love  and  serve  Christ  far 
better  than  I  do,  though  in  a  different 
sphere.  You  have  not  the  physical  strength 
I  have,  and  so  are  not  called  to  the  same 
labors ;  and  you  must  only  think  of  me 
as  a  very  insignificant  person,  who  may 
bustle  about,  and  yet  be  far  enough  from 
what  I  ought  to  be ;  still  I  hope  in  the 
midst  of  all  my  short-comings,  there  is  a 
little  love  to  Christ,  which  constrains  me  ; 
but  you  well  know  1  did  not  put  it  there 
myself,  and  therefore  to  God  be  all  the 
glory." 

"  Christmas^  25th. 

"  It  is  early  morning.     The  royal  King 


MAEY     C.     GEEENLEAF.  335 

of  day  has  not  made  his  appearance,  thougli 
from  my  window  I  can  see  the  preparation 
for  it.  As  you  celebrate  the  birth  and 
death  of  our  Divine  Redeemer,  may  you 
indeed  feed  upon  Him  with  thanksgiving." 


To  Mrs.  J.  B.,  of  N.  P. 

"  January  1st,  1857. 
"  I  have  received  five  letters  from  you 
since  I  wrote,  and  I  think  it  is  time  I 
should  try  to  answer.  Am  grieved  to 
hear  you  have  been  ill  again.  My  dear 
mother  used  to  say,  '  it  is  harder  to  suffer 
than  to  do  the  will  of  God.'  You  recollect 
the  lines : — 


'  God  nothing  does,  or  suffers  to  be  done, 
But  thou  thyself  would'st  do,  if  thou  could'st  see 
The  end  of  all  events  as  well  as  He.' 


336  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

"  This  New  Year's  day  is  a  holiday  for 
the  children,  and  I. sent  them  all  out  to 
play.  Very  soon  many  of  them  came 
tagging  back,  and  filling  their  arms  with 
wood  for  my  stove,  came  tapping  at  my 
door;  after  filling  the  wood-box,  want  to 
look  at  every  thing  in  the  room,  but  seeing 
me  writing,  they  sit  down  on  the  floor, 
making  and  dressing  rag  dolls.  A  little 
new  girl  came  with  J.  Greenleaf,  and  we 
have  given  her  the  name  of  Mary  Margaret 
Wilson^for  an  aunt  of  Mrs.  Wilson.  She 
is  quiet  and  still, — very  slow,  but  a  general 
favorite. 

"  This  morning,  as  I  was  sitting  with 
the  girls,  a  tall  Indian,  dressed  with  tur- 
ban and  blanket,  a  peacock's  feather  in 
the  turban,  and  a  tomahawk  by  his  side, 
walked  into  the  room.  I  arose,  shook 
hands,  and  gave  him  a  chair.  He  smiled 
pleasantly,  looked  round,  and  I   got   one 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.         337 

of  the  girls  for  an  intrepreter,  and  on 
inquiry  found  Mary  Margaret  was  his 
only  child.  She  went  to  him,  and  he 
seemed  very  happy  to  see  her.  She  is 
so  stout  and  healthy,  I  think  he  was 
satisfied  with  her  treatment.  I  stroked 
her  hair,  and  told  him  she  was  a  nice 
little  girl,  which  seemed  to  please  him 
much.  When  the  dinner  bell  rang,  I 
invited  him  to  go  down  with  us,  which 
he  did.  He  is  a  very  noble  looking 
man. 

"  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson,  and  two  ladies, 
have  gone  to  the  depot,  to  attend  a  wed- 
ding. The  parents  were  never  married, 
so  we  judge  there  is  some  improvement 
now  they  have  their  children  lawfully 
married.  The  Chickasaws  are  a  very 
gay,  licentious  people,  having  lived  be- 
fore their  removal,  among  the  whites  in 
Mississippi ;    and   many  returned    soldiers 


338  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

from  the  Mexican  war  have  settled  here 
and  taken  Indian  women.  They  have 
learned  a  great  deal  of  evil  of  the  whites 
— they  have  l)een  cheated  so  by  them, 
and  so  many  money-loving  men  have 
come  here,  to  fleece  them  out  of  their 
annuity,  that  Mr.  W.  thinks  they  imagine 
we  all  come  for  money,  and  it  will  take 
time   to   gain    their   full  confidence. 

"  I  wish  you  to  pray  for  one  of  my 
oldest  girls.  I  think  the  Spirit  is  striv- 
ing with  her,  and  fondly  hope  she  is  not 
far  from  the  kingdom  of  God.  She 
comes  to  my  room  to  read  her  Bible, 
and  be  instructed  in  the  way  of  salva- 
tion, and  it  is  cheering  to  my  heart  to 
have  one,  whose  ear  is  open,  and  whose 
tears  show  that  she  feels  ;  yet  you  know 
how  easily  the  Spirit  is  grieved,  and  how 
volatile  young  persons  are,  and  I  also 
fear  for   myself,  lest   I   should  say   or   do 


MARY     C.GREEN  LEAF.         339 


any  thing  which  may  hinder  her  salvation. 
Heard  that  three  who  were  scholars 
here  last  year,  liave  joined  the  Methodist 
church.  If  they  are  true  Christians  it  is 
a   great   tiling. 

"  In  writing  from  this  place,  I  always 
feel  my  friends  will  be  disappointed  that 
I  have  so  little  of  interest  to  commu- 
nicate. My  daily  routine  of  duties  is 
not  varied  by  any  striking  incidents.  I 
thank  you  for  the  encouraging  words 
you  write  respecting  ray  coming  here. 
I  know  not  how  I  could  have  answered 
it  to  my  conscience,  to  have  declined 
coming,  when  the  indications  of  Provi- 
dence were  so  decisive,  and  as  no  one 
could  be  found  to  take  my  place,  I  am 
satisfied   it   was    right   for    me    to   come. 

"  I  trust  Mrs.  C.  will  be  spared  'till 
my  return,  and  we  may  yet  have  many  a 
pleasant     interview.      When     that     time 


340  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

will  be  I  leave,  for  I  know  not  what 
may  be  my  duty,  yet  if  such  be  the  will 
of  God,  I  would  like  to  pass  the  closing 
years  of  my  life  in  Newburyport,  and  lay 
me  down  for  my  last  sleep  beside  my  pre- 
cious mother." 

"  22>d.  For  nearly  three  weeks  past, 
we  have  had  snow  on  the  ground,  which 
though  but  a  few  inches  in  depth,  has 
not  entirely  disappeared.  The  house  is 
poorly  built,  and  has  large  air  holes,  so 
that  the  air  circulates  freely.  I  think 
Miss  C.  Beecher  would  be  satisfied  with 
the  ventilation  of  my  sitting-room,  and  I 
really  believe  it  is  for  my  health.  At 
any  rate  I  am  preserved,  having  only  an 
occasional  cold,  and  the  girls  have  been 
much  more  healthy  since  the  cooler 
weather.  The  creek  near  by,  has  been 
frozen,  so  that   the   girls  slide  on   it." 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  341 


To   E.   W.,  Esq.,   N.   P. 

"  January  25th. 

of  great  usefulness  is  apparent,  but  I 
know  I  come  very  far  short  of  doing 
every  thing  in  the  best  manner,  and 
from  the  highest  motives ;  but  with  all 
my  deficiencies,  I  humbly  hope  it  is  my 
first  desire  to  serve  Christ,  and  in  this 
liumble  way  to  promote  His  glory,  by 
trying  to  do  good  to  these*  children,  since 
to  feed  His  sheep  and  lambs  was  His 
direction   to    one  of  his  Apostles. 

"  My  Sabbaths  are  very  much  devoted 
to  my  children,  and  when  they  are  all 
together,  you  can  imagine  we  are  often 
very  weary  when  the  Sabbath  closes. 
Though  I  miss  the  rich  privileges  I  once 
enjoyed,  I  have  been  uniformly  contented 

23 


342  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 


and  happy,  and  am   satisfied  it  was  best 
for  me  to  come, 

"  I  hope  now  that  all  are  at  home 
again  in  our  church,  tliat  the  members 
will  '  arise  and  shine.'  I  trust  tliat  the 
young  will  be  growing  Christians  and 
not  so  conformed  to  the  world  as  not  to 
be  distinguished  from  the  mass  around. 
I  trust  many  souls  will  receive  the  gospel 
in  faith,  and  the  Sabbath  school  be  a  nur- 
sery for  the  church.  What  a  luxury  it 
would  be  to  join  in  the  prayers  of  my 
pastor,  and  lislen  to  the  gospel  from  his 
lips ;  but  if  all  staid  at .  home,  who 
would  teach  the  heathen  ?  I  hope  many 
more  will  yet  go  from  our  church  to  labor 
for  Christ  in  destitute  portions  of  the 
vineyard,  and  if  we  all  meet  at  the  close 
of  our  pilgrimage,  in  our  Father's  house,  ' 
to  go  no  more  out,  how  short  will  be  the 
separation !  " 


MAET     C.     GREENLEAF.  343 


To  Miss  M.  S.,  op  Boston. 

"  January  30^/t, 
"  My  friends  have  been  very  kind  in 
writing  to  me.  Yours  was  one  of  tlie 
twelve  letters  which  came  by  one  mail. 
I  think  it  is  time  it  should  be  gratefully 
acknowledged.  It  has  often  been  in  my 
heart  to  do  so  when  it  was  utterly  impos- 
sible, so  full  have  been  my  hands  since 
the  commencement  of  the  session.  I 
have  but  very  little  time  for  writing,  but 
if  there  be  no  severe  sickness  among  my 
children,  shall  probably  have  more  leisure, 
for  the  winter  clothing  is  all  made  and 
much   for   the   spring   is   on    hand. 

"  Tomorrow  is  my  birthday.  Fifty-seven 
years  have  gone,  and  but  few  probably 
remain  in  which  I  can  perform  active 
service  for    Him  to  whom    I  owe  my  all. 


844  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

Though  my  dear  mother  lived  to  be 
more  than  thirty  years  older  than  I  am 
now,  I  do  not  expect  to  attain  her  age  ; 
nor  does  it  seem  desirable,  yet  this  is  not 
my  concern,  but  rather  to  fill  up  time 
with  duty,  and  in  all  things  to  serve  Christ. 
"  The  weather  for  the  last  week  has 
been  mild  and  pleasant — the  snow  has 
all  gone,  and  the  mornings  seem  quite 
like  spring,  especially  when  the  snow 
birds  are  flying  round  and  singing. 
They  are  very  abundant  and  often  fly 
into  the  house,  but  do  not  like  to  re- 
main there.  Last  Sabbath,  Mr.  Wilson 
went  to  preach  four  miles  off,  and  on 
his  return  said,  the  only  travelers  he 
saw  on  his  way  were  wolves  and  eagles. 
I  have  not  yet  seen  the  king  of  birds, 
or  any  wild  beasts,  but  we  had  yester- 
day a  wild  turkey  for  dinner,  and 
often   have  wild  ducks." 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAP.  345 


To   Miss  A.  C,  op  N.  P. 

"  February  ^th. 

"  Very  often  have  I  remembered  my 
promise  to  write  you  ;  and  at  the  com- 
mencement of  several  weeks  past,  I 
hoped  to  find  time  to  scribble  a  hasty 
letter  to  you,  for  that  is  all  I  can  now 
do  to  any  one  while  I  have  nearly  thirty 
girls  under  my  care.  There  is  always 
something  to  do  for  them,  and  if  I 
am  a  negligent  correspondent  it  is  not 
strange  ;  still  I  have  never  failed  to  write 
every  week  to  some  one  of  my  numer- 
ous correspondents  in  Newburyport,  and 
presume  you  have  occasionally  heard  of 
my  welfare  through  them. 

"  For  some  reason  the  school  has  not 
quite  the  usual  number  of  scholars  (one 
hundred)    this     session.     Most    of    them 


346  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

have  been  here  before,  and  can  under- 
stand English,  but  a  few  have  come  for 
the  first  time,  and  seldom  speak  to  me 
in  English,  but  get  another  to  speak  for 
them.  Some  of  the  little  ones  are 
extremely  .winning  in  their  ways,  though 
all  have  faults,  and  show  plainly  that 
they  belong  to  a  fallen  race.  Will  you 
not  remember  us  in  yoxir  prayers,  for 
we  need  the  outpouring  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
to  convince  them  of  sin  and  turn  them 
to  God, 

"  Boggy  Depot,  where  all  our  letters 
arrive,  has  only  two  dwelling-houses,  a 
small  meeting-house,  and  a  store  kept  by 
a  Yankee,  in  which  is  the  Post-office. 
The  Indians  biiild  their  rude  log-cabins 
away  from  the  road,  and  generally  behind 
clumps  of  trees,  which  effectually  con- 
ceal them  from  the  view  of  travelers, 
and  frequently  have  we  rode  half   a  day 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAP.         347 

without  descrying  a  single  dwelling, 
though  probably  many  habitations  were 
quite  near.  Whether  this  attempt  to 
hide  themselves  is  the  result  of  the  treat- 
ment tliey  liave  received  from  the  '  white 
man,'  I  am  not  able  to  say,  but  as  they 
have  been  driven  from  their  lands,  and 
sent  off  here,  perhaps  they  are  afraid  of 
another  removal. 

"  With  respect  to  society,  I  certainly 
do  miss  the  pleasant  companions  of  New- 
buryport,  and  were  it  not  for  letters,  I 
fear  I  should  sometimes  be  quite  low- 
spirited,  but  these  are  so  cheering,  that 
if  I  begin  to  be  cast  down,  I  am  soon 
refreshed  by  epistles  from  absent  friends, 
whom  I  have  long  known  and  loved. 
Trials  wo  have,  but  should  we  not  be 
ruined  without   them  ? 

"  Tiiis  week  has  been  mild  as  our 
May,  and  some  tiny  flowers  are  in  blossom, 


348  LIFE      A.ND     LETTERS 

and  multitudes  are  springing  up  which 
will  bloom  soon.  I  think  the  season  of 
flowers  must  be  very  beautiful.  I  came 
so  late  in  the  summer,  I  was  told  the 
most  elegant  flowers  had  gone,  still  I 
found  many  which  charmed  the  eye 
and  spoke  continually  of  His  goodness, 
who  '  clothes  the  grass  of  the  field.' 

"  When  Mr.  Wilson  is  at  home,  he 
preaches  twice  on  the  Sabbath,  morning 
and  evening,  and  instructs  the  girls  for 
a  short  time  after  dinner — the  remainder 
of  the  day  the  teachers  have  tlie  sole 
charge  of  them,  and  of  course  we  can 
have  but  little  time  to  ourselves,  but  it 
is  good  to  lay  our  own  advantage  by  for 
their  benefit. 

"  Hitherto  my  health  has  been  very 
good.  I  have  some  hope  that  I  shall 
escape  tlie  disease  of  the  climate,  but 
trust  I  shall  welcome  whatever  trial  God 


MAEY     C.      GREENLEAP.  349 

sends     upon     me,    knowing     that     '  He 
doeth  all  thiners  well.'  " 


To  Mrs.    J.  B.,  of  N.  P. 

"  February  18//i. 

"  After  being  penetrated  with  cold  in 
January,  February  came  in  as  mild  as 
May  at  the  North.  The  girls  brought 
me  tiny  flowers  from  the  prairie ;  the 
thermometer  stood  at  seventy-four  for 
two  or  three  days,  and  numerous 
flocks  of  birds  are  seen.  Peas  were 
planted  two  weeks  since,  and  I  presume 
they  are  up.  We  have  had  doors  and 
windows  open  ;  but  last  night,  a  violent 
thunder  shower  produced  a  great  change. 
We  shall  probably  have  more  or  less 
sickness  until  the  weather  is  settled. 

"  I  have  been  much  interested  in  read- 
ing of  Dr.  Livingstone  in  the  papers,  and 


350  LIFE     AND      LETTERS 

I  think  one  effect  of  my  coming  here 
will  be  to  make  me  feel  more  for  mis- 
sionaries everywhere.  They  have  many 
things  to  discourage  them,  yet  on  the 
whole,  I  think  they  are  happier  than  the 
mass  of  Christians  at  home.  God  makes 
up  the  loss  of  their  enjoyments  by  giving 
them  a  cheerful  and  contented  spirit. 

"  You  will  not  find  Wapanucka,  tlie 
name  of  our  Institution,  on  any  map. 
It  is  the  name  of  the  creek,  about  an 
eighth  of  a  mile  distant,  and  so  was  given 
to   the  mission." 


To   Miss  E.  G.,  of  N.  P. 

"  March   16th. 

"      *     *     *     *     I    have     a     little    sick 

girl    in   the    other    room, — she    has    lung 

fever,  and  I  must   often   run  to  her  and 

answer  her  cries  for  o-kah,  (water),  and 


MARY     C.      GEEENLEAF.  351 

see  if  she  needs  any  thing,  so  you 
see  I  have  to  nurse  the  children, 
and  do  a  great  deal  for  their  bodies, 
but  this  gives  me  a  strong  hold  on 
their  affections,  and  increases  my  influ- 
ence over  them.  Most  of  them,  great 
and  small,  make  a  great  ado  when 
they  are  sick,  and  if  I  were  easily 
frightened,  should  often  think  they  were 
seriously  ill,  when  in  a  few  hours  they 
seem  quite  well,  and  in  a  day  or  two  are 
out  at  play.  Some  of  the  ladies  fear  we 
shall  have  sickness  among  them  this 
spring  ;  but  as  I  am  not  disposed  to  bor- 
row trouble,  I  do  not  distress  myself 
with  useless  forebodings.  '  Sufficient  unto 
the  day  is  the  evil  thereof,'  and  the 
same  kind  hand,  which  has  been  so 
often  stretched  out  for  my  support,  will 
still  uphold  me  under  every  trial. 
"  We  are  to  have  the  sacrament  of  the 


352  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

Supper  administered  here  next  Sunday. 
One  of  my  girls,  and  another  of  Mrs. 
Jones's  have  applied  for  admission  to  the 
church,  together  with  Emily,  one  of  the 
colored  servants.  The  one  under  my 
care  appears  well  now.  Sometimes  I 
feel  encouraged  about  others,  and  then  it 
seems  as  if  they  were  entirely  under  the 
dominion  of  sin  and  Satan ;  but  God  is 
able  to  change  the  most  stubborn  heart. 
"  It  is  now  a  little  more  than  a  year 
since  I  began  to  think  seriously  of  devot- 
ing myself  to  missionary  labors,  for  a 
season.  In  reviewing  the  way  in  which 
the  Lord  led  me,  I  cannot  fail  to  see 
His  hand,  and  gratefully  notice  His 
goodness  in  granting  me  the  privilege  of 
laboring  here,  though  in  a  humble  way, 
to  benefit  the  children  of  this  tribe  of 
Indians.  We  must  sow  the  seed  in  faith 
and  hope,  and  not  be    discouraged  if    we 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  353 

see  no  present  results.  It  is  often  neces- 
sary for  us  )iot  to  know  that  we  are 
doing  good,  for  spiritual  pride  is  often 
fostered  when  we  think  our  labors  are 
blessed ;  and  as  humility  is  a  very 
important  grace,  God  often  disappoints 
our  hopes  when  he  sees  that  their  grati- 
fication would  puff  us  up,  and,  do  us 
harm." 


To   Miss   P.   H.,   of  N.   P. 

"  April  2d. 
"  Your  kind  note  was  very  gratefully 
received.  Accept  my  thanks  for  your 
attention  to  my  business,  and  for  the 
expression  of  your  opinions  on  other 
topics.  I  would  like,  my  valued  friend, 
to  correct  a  wrong  impression  which  I 
suppose  I  have  unintentionally  given  with 


354  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

regard  to  the  children  under  my  care. 
More  than  one-half,  probably  two-thirds, 
understand  English  enough  to  compre- 
hend my  instructions.  It  is  the  new 
scholars,  of  whom  I  have  ten,  who  as  yet 
understand  but  little  ;  yet  even  these  get 
some  right  impressions,  and  soon  learn 
obedience  to  tlie  regulations  of  the  house. 
A  little  one,  who  has  just  recovered  from 
a  lung  fever,  I  have  had  in  my  room  for 
nearly  two  weeks.  She  is  now  well  enough 
to  attend  school,  and  learns  slowly ; — 
but  is  a  very  docile  child,  and  seems  to 
wish  to  do  every  thing  I  tell  her  to  do. 
After  she  was  able  to  sit  up,  I  gave  her 
some  playthings,  and  a  little  box  in  which 
to  keep  them,  which  pleased  her  much, 
and  immediately  after  breakfast,  she 
would  open  her  little  treasures  and  enjoy 
them.  On  Sunday  morning  she  seemed 
doubtful  whether  she  should  have   them, 


MARY     C.      GREENLEAF.  855 

SO  placing  her  hand  on  the  '  corner  of  tlie 
box,  and  lookhig  up  to  me  inquiringly, 
she  seemed  to  say,  '  Can  I  play  with  them 
to-day  ?'  I  shook  my  head,  and  said,  '  It 
is  Sabbath,'  and  she  never  offered  to  touch 
them  through  the  day.  This  gratified  me, 
for  though  I  do  not  know  that  she  under- 
stands why  we  keep  the  Sabbath,  I  per- 
ceived slie  knew  there  is  a  difference 
between  that  and  other  days,  and  when 
she  kneels  by  me,  and  her  little  voice 
repeats  '  our  Father,'  and  '  Now  I  lay  me 
down  to  sleep,  &c.'  I  hope  God  will  yet 
mark  her  for  his  own.  Sometimes  I  think 
I  would  like  to  adopt  her,  as  she  has  no 
mother,  but  I  presume  her  father  would 
not  give  her  up. 

"  Some  of  our  eldest  girls  show  the 
advantage  of  this  Institution.  Seven  of 
them  are  now  members  of  the  church, 
and  appear  well,  and  tliough   none  mani- 


356  LIFE    AND    LETTERS 

fested  any  interest  in  religion  until  the 
Institution  had  been  in  operation  four 
years,  yet  we  feel  this  is  enough  to  encour- 
age us.  I  do  not  see  that  there  are  more 
discouragements  here  than  in  any  other 
part  of  the  heathen  world  ;  and  if  the 
Gospel  is  to  be  preached  to  every  creature, 
somebody  must  come  here,  and  as  the 
Board  find  it  very  difficult  to  procure  per- 
sons to  go  among  the  Indians,  I  cannot 
regret  coming  ;  nor,  while  there  are  three 
hundred  and  sixty-six  members  in  the 
church  at  home,  do  I  see  any  reason  why 
one  cannot  be  spared  for  a  few  years. 
Should  my  life  be  prolonged,  I  do  not 
expect  to  stay  here  more  than  three  or 
four  years,  as  I  shall  be  too  old,  then  if 
God  has  any  thing  for  me  to  do  in  New- 
buryport,  I  shall  gladly  return,  and 
again  unite  witli  you  in  trying  to  do 
good   there.      But    I    have    no     definite 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  367 

plan  for  the  future  ;  I  leave  all  vrith  God 
and  only  wish  to  know  and  do  His  will. 
Life  is  so  uncertain,  that  it  is  of  little 
importance  comparatively,  where  we  live, 
so  we  but  fill  up  life  with  duty,  and  all 
meet   at   last  in    heaven. 

"  The  spring  here,  is  very  delightful. 
Flowers  are  in  great  profusion.  The  ver- 
benas are  very  fragrant,  and  as  they  are  so 
abundant,  the  air  is  very  sweet.  The  trees 
are  in  foliage,  and  the  dog-wood  and 
others  in  blossom  ;  there  is  much  to  enjoy 
in  a  walk.  The  girls  start  off"  in  every 
direction,  and  load  me  with  flowers,  so 
that  I  have  to  throw  away  sufficient  to 
ornament  several  rooms. 

"  A  few  weeks  since,  a  little  girl,  about 
twelve  years  old,  came  in,  to  whom  Mr. 
Wilson  wished  me  to  give  a  name.  I 
called    her   for    your    sister,   H.    S.     She 

24 


358  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

seems    to   be    a     quiet    child,   and   more 
cleanly  than  some  of  them." 


To  Mrs.  J.  N.  C,  op  N.  R 

"  April  8t/i. 
"  Whenever  1  take  up  my  pen  here,  I 
feel  that  I  write  pretty  much  the  same 
things  to  every  one,  therefore  my  letters 
must  be  very  tedious.  Yet  if  I  do  not 
write,  you  all  suppose  I  am  sick,  and  so, 
dull  as  they  are,  I  keep  on  with  my  barren 
scrawls.  I  am  very  glad  to  hear  that  you 
think  of  me,  particularly  on  the  Sabbath. 
In  some  respects  it  is  the  hardest  day  in 
the  week  for  me.  The  children  are  rest- 
less, and  long  to  go  out  to  play,  and  some 
of  them  do  not  understand  why  they 
may  not ;  and  what  with  trying  to  interest 
them  in  something  profitable,  and  at  the 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.         359 


same  time  not  over-task  them,  I  cannot 
get  much  opportunity  to  rest,  though  I 
always  feel  refreshed  in  a  degree.  I  tell 
them  stories  of  Daniel  in  the  lion's  den, 
the  three  children  in  the  fiery  furnace, 
&c.,  and  show  them  pictures  to  illustrate 
the  Scriptures.  At  present  they  under- 
stand little  of  what  they  are  taught  ;  yet 
I  love  to  hear  their  young  voices  repeating 
'Our  Father,'  and  'Suffer  little  children,' 
&c.,  and  '  'Tis  the  holy  Sabbath  day,'  for 
I  tliink  they  will  understand  them  by-and- 
byc,  if  they  live,  and  the  Holy  Spirit  may 
yet  make  the  trutlis  of  the  gospel  effec- 
tual to  salvation.  Sometimes  when  they 
cluster  around  me,  to  hear  me  read  some 
part  of  the  life  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour, 
I  feci  quite  encouraged  by  their  attention  ; 
at  others,  like  all  children,  they  are  so 
full  of  play  it  seems  next  to  impossible  to 
ffaiii    it. 


360  LIFE     AND      LETTERS 

I  To  Miss  E.  D.,  of  N.  P. 

i 

i  "  April  21st. 

i 

I       "  *      *       *       I  know  it  is  always  ex- 

I  pected  when  a  letter  is  received  from  any 

1  Missionary   station,  tliat    it    will    contain 

'  something  different  from  a  common  friendly 

I  letter.     In  this  I  presume,  I  have  disap- 

i  pointed  all    my  friends,  for   in  our  daily 

I  routine  of  duties,  away  from  society,  though 

j  there  is   much   for  us  to  do,  great  cares 

!  and  responsibilities,  yet  there  are  no  start- 

I  ling  events  to  narrate.     It  is  much  as  it 

j  is  at  home  in  a  large  boarding  school  for 

!  children,  much  to  interest  ourselves,  many 

i  pleasing   tokens   of  affection,   as   well    as 

I  many   trying   exhibitions   of    their   innate 

depravity,  and  the  darkness  of  their  minds 
I  with,  regard   to    spiritual   things.      These 

last  lead   us  often  to  cry  to  '  the  strong 


MARY     C.     GREEN  LEAP.  361 

One '  for  strength  and  grace  to  labor  on, 
believing  that  '  our  labor  will  not  be  in 
vain  in  the  Lord.'  That  we  do  see  some 
improvement  in  them  is  certain  ;  but  you 
know  with  all  children  much  patience  is  j 
required,  and  here  especially  must  we  give 
them  '  line  upon  line,  and  precept  upon 
precept.' 

"  Not  a  week  passes  without  some  of 
our  girls  having  chills  and  fever,  but  they 
are  not  all  sick  at  once,  which  is  a  great 
mercy.  There  is  less  running  away  this 
session  than  ever  before  ;  and  those  who 
do  go  home,  are  most  of  them  soon 
returned  by  the  parents.  Many  of  them 
sing  sweetly.  Jane  Greenleaf  has  quite 
an  ear  for  music.  H —  S — ,  is  a  very 
good  girl,  quick  and  obedient,  sews  pretty 
well,  and  is  now  marking  the  alphabet 
on  canvass.  Several  of  the  girls  now 
milk   in   the   morning,   there    being  forty- 


362  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

five  milch  cows.  We  wish  to  have  them 
learn  all  kinds  of  work,  that  they  may 
know  how  to  keep  house  properly,  and 
thus  there  be  a  gradual  improvement 
among  the  people. 

"  My  own  health  is  still  preserved.  My 
labors  are  less  than  in  the  winter.  Cold 
chilly  winds  prevail ;  the  Indians  say  the 
spring  is  very  backward." 


To  Mrs.  S.  W.  T.,  of  N.  P. 

"  Ma7j  9  th. 
"  Althougli  I  have  nothing  very  interest- 
ing to  communicate,  I  am  unwilling  that 
your  two  letters  should  remain  unanswered 
any  longer.  There  is  little  variety  in  our 
life.  Indians  it  is  true  visit  here  almost 
every  day,  but  they  do  not  often  enter 
our  rooms.     They  send  for  their  children 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.        363 

to  go  to  them  in  the  Chickasaw  room,  as 
it  is  called,  at  tlie  farther  end  of  tho 
liouse,  and  when  we  see  them  we  can 
only  smile  and  shake  hands,  and  speak 
through  an  interpreter. 

"Mr.  Wilson  has  gone  to-day  to  preach 
a  funeral  sermon  for  one  of  our  little 
girls,  who  died  at  home  a  month  since. 
We  have  lost  two  children  this  session, 
though  both  died  at  home.  They  have 
a  custom  here,  when  any  one  dies,  to  bury 
without  any  prayer,  or  any  ceremony  at 
all.  Sometime  after,  perhaps  three  months, 
even  a  whole  year,  they  have  a  funeral, 
get  a  Missionary  to  preach,  sometimes 
have  a  two  days'  meeting  and  a  feast. 
We  hope  ere  long  they  will  abandon  the 
practice,  which  is  not,  however,  peculiar 
to  the  Indians.  It  prevails  to  some  extent 
in  the  south  and  west.  I  have  more  time 
to  write    now,   not   having   much   sewing 


364  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

for  the  girls ;  but  am  teaching  some  of 
them  to  mark  on  canvass.  Several  of 
them  are  employed  in  the  dining-hall  after 
every  moal,  washing  dishes ;  and  with 
patchwork,  and  the  weekly  mending,  I 
contrive  to  keep  them  employed  in  the 
working  hours." 


To  Mrs.  W.  M.,  of  N.  P. 

"  Maij  29th. 
"  Tliink  not  I  have  forgotten  you,  though 
I  have  not  written  you  since  I  arrived  at 
this  place.  I  supposed  you  would  hear 
of  my  welfare  through  others ;  and  as 
there  is  not  much  to  communicate,  my 
letters  are  very  dry  and  barren,  never- 
theless I  am  going  to  trouble  you.  I 
write  in  the  midst  of  a  severe  thunder 
shower,  the  rain  pouring  down  in  torrents. 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.         365 

These  showers  commenced  the  first  of 
Februar}^,  and  we  have  had  them  very 
frequently  ever  since.  Sometimes  they 
are  accompanied  by  hail,  and  in  one 
instance  the  hail-stones  were  as  large  as 
bullets,  and  for  a  little  time  the  ground 
was  as  white  as  if  snow  had  fallen.  With 
these  Miss  Lee  made  the  children  a  small 
ice  cream,  the  first  ever  made  in  the  place. 

"  My  hands  have  been  very  full  ever 
since  the  commencement  of  the  session. 
You  may  well  suppose  that  to  clothe  thirty- 
six  Indian  girls,  and  to  teach  them  almost 
every  thing,  can  not  be  done  without  much 
care  and  labor;  but  I  manage  all  these 
much  more  easily  than  I  did  a  less  number 
at  first,  having  learned  by  experience.  I 
have,  however,  no  time  to  waste. 

"  How  you  would  delight  in  the  abund- 
ance of  wild  flowers  which  bloom  all 
around  us.     Verbenas  are  so  common  as 


366  LIFE      AND      LETTERS 

sometimes  to  be  quite  miiioticed.  Their 
fragrance  is  like  our  pinks.  Could  you 
look  into  my  room,  you  would  see  four 
tumblers,  and  a  tin  can  that  serves  for  a 
vase,  crowded  with  a  rich  variety  of 
flowers,  among  which  are  white  bee-lark- 
spur, yellow  wall  flower,  red,  white,  and 
pink  mallows,  a  kind  of  moss  with  pink 
flowers,  yellow  and  white  primroses,  besides 
many  others.  I  often  think  if  I  could 
transport  them  to  Newburyport,  you  would 
realize  something  of  the  beauty  with  which 
God  clothes  our  prairies." 


To  Miss  M.  S.,  op  Boston. 

"  Mmj  11th. 
"  Yours   of  March   27th  came   in  four 
weeks,   and   was   very   welcome.      If  you 
could  look  in   upon   me,  you  would   not 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.         367 

wonder  that  I  do  not  write  more,  for  a 
family  of  tliirty  is  no  small  charge  ;  nor 
can  their  clothing  be  cut,  fitted,  made, 
and  mended,  unless  I  am  constantly  em- 
ployed. When  I  had  them  all  rigged  out 
in  the  winter  with  one  dress  each,  I  felt 
as  if  my  labors  would  be  lightened  ;  but 
no  sooner  had  I  got  through  with  thirty 
Sunday  aprons,  tlian  I  had  to  begin  upon 
a  second  winter  dress  for  each.  In  January 
1  had  used  up  nearly  six  pieces  of  Ken- 
tucky jean,  of  thirty-one  yards  each  ;  three 
pieces  of  chambray,  nearly  two  of  calico, 
two  of  cotton  flannel,  one  and  a  half  of 
unbleached  cotton,  &c., — then  some  of 
the  children  are  constantly  tearing  their 
clothes  ;  and  stockings  wear  out  very  fast ; 
but  it  is  my  time  for  working  while  on 
Missionary  ground,  and  I  would  not  be 
a  drone  here.  I  am  quite  satisfied  with 
every  thing,  except  my  own  short-comings, 


368  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

and  I  never  expect  or  wish  to  be  satisfied 
with  myself,  until  I  awake  in  the  likeness 
of  Christ. 

"  At  all  Missionary  stations  where  the 
scholars  board,  we  must  attend  to  their 
bodily  wants,  as  well  as  to  their  mental 
and  spiritual  ones ;  and  no  one  is  fit  for 
a  Missionary  in  this  place,  who  is  not  will- 
ing and  able  to  do  almost  every  thing. 
Had  I  not  been  accustomed  to  labor  with 
my  hands,  I  see  not  how  I  could  have 
been  of  much  use  here. 

"  Last  week  there  was  much  sickness 
among  my  girls,  one  had  convulsions  for 
hours.  Towards  night  the  spasms  left 
her,  I  had  her  removed  into  my  room,  and 
gave  up  my  bed  to  her,  while  I  watched 
all  night.  She  was  removed  to  her  home 
by  her  parents,  and  we  expect  her  back 
tomorrow.  I  have  one  now  in  bed,  who 
is  a  slender  child,  and  I  sit  with  my  door 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  369 

opening  into  the  girls'  sleeping-room,  so 
that  I  can  see  and  hear  her  at  any  moment. 
My  own  health  is  continued,  and  I  have 
great  reason  for  gratitude  that  strength 
equal  to  my  day  has  been  granted  me. 
It  is  a  year  this  week  since  I  left  Newbury- 
port.  It  seems  a  very  short  year,  though 
an  eventful  one, — indeed,  the  shortest  year 
of  my  life.  I  have  not  been  taken  off  my 
labors  for  an  hour  since  I  came,  or  even 
obliged  to  lie  down  in  the  day,  or  feel 
that  I  was  really  sick.  Have  never  had 
chills,  and  all  seem  to  think  me  very 
strong  and  healthy.  My  appetite  is  good, 
and  I  sleep  sweetly ;  so  have  I  not  reason 
to  serve  God   cheerfully  ? 

"  My  Sabbaths  though  necessarily  much 
interrupted,  are  not  without  enjoyment. 
In  the  morning,  after  breakfast,  I  have 
to  see  that  the  younger  girls,  about  twenty, 
have  their  Sunday  dresses  and  aprons, — 


370  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

that  tliey  are  put  on  properly,  and  their 
hair  combed,  their  faces,  hands,  and  nails 
clean,  and  this  occupies  most  of  the  time 
until  Sabbath  school.  Then  I  trim  the 
lamps,  which  I  cannot  trust  them  to  do, 
tliey  do  them  so  sadly.  Dress  for  the  day, 
and  liave  a  little  time  to  myself  before 
meeting.  After  meeting  I  must  see  that 
the  girls  take  off  these  aprons  before 
dinner,  and  put  on  others,  else  they  would 
soon  be  spoiled.  Then  I  go  down  and 
wait  upon  them  at  dinner ;  after  which 
the  teachers  dine,  (breakfast  is  the  only 
meal  taken  with  the  children).  We  then 
go  to  the  sitting-room,  and  try  to  interest 
them  until  half-past  two,  when  they  have 
a  school  for  an  hour.  From  that  time 
until  eight  o'clock,  I  ransack  my  memory 
for  something  to  interest  them,  telling 
them  Scripture  stories  of  David  and 
Goliath,    Daniel   in    the   lion's   den,    (fee, 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  371 


and  tell  them  something  of  the  heathen 
who  worship  idols,  and  endeavor  to  do 
them  good  in  various  ways.  I  am  glad 
to  go  to  bed,  but  sleep  soundly  all  night, 
and  gencrallv  wake  before  the  bell  rinos 
at  half-past  five  in  the  morning,  and  feel 
so  fresh  and  vigorous  that  I  know  the 
Sabbath  is  a  blessing,  even  if  I  cannot 
lead  and  meditate  much  by  myself,  but 
'teaching  we  learn,  and  giving  we  receive,' 
and  so  1  hope  the  sacred  hours  are  not 
wasted. 

"  The  Choctaws  are  in  advance  of  this 
tribe,  in  regard  to  both  education  and 
religion,  having  had  more  Missionary  labor 
bestowed  upon  them.  At  the  recent  meet- 
ing of  the  Presbytery  in  their  country, 
one  of  their  eldera  subscribed  twenty 
doHars  lor  Foreign  Missions.  He  sub- 
scribed the  same  amount  last  year,  and 
to  pay  it,  took  a  pony  to  the  Missionary, 


372  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

Mr.  Stark,  saying,  '  lie  thought  it  might 
bring  twenty-five  dollars,  and  in  that  case 
he  wanted  five  for  himself.'  Mr.  S.  sold 
it  for  thirty-five,  and  offered  the  fifteen 
to  him.  Said  he,  '  Oh,  no,  1  only  want 
five,'  and  so  the  whole  thirty  dollars  were 
paid  over  to  the  Missionary  Board.  Would 
not  these  Indians  be  a  rebuke  to  many 
in   our  churches  at  home,  who  only  give 

j  a  trifle  to  send  the  Gospel  abroad  ? 

i  "  Mr.  Wilson  is  going  to  let  the  children 
have  a  party  in  the  open  air  on  the  first 
of  May.     The  girls  dress  a  May  pole  with 

;'  flowers,  and  all  walk  in  procession  about 

i  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  and  have  their  dinner 

■  on    the   rocks,   near   some    curious    caves. 

i 

1  The  pole  is  planted  outside  the  caves,  then 

table  cloths  spread  on   the  rocks,  and  the 

;  repast,  consisting  of  cold  ham,  bread  and 

'  butter,  buns  and  gingerbread,   with   cold 

i  water,  is  eaten.     The  teachers  are  present, 


MARY     C.     GREEN  LEAF.         373 

as  it  is  well  we  should  sometimes  be  with 
them  ill  tlieir  recreations  to  see  tliat  they 
behave  properly," 


To  Mrs.  J.  B.,  op  N.  P. 

"  Mai)  15th. 

"  The  date  of  this  may  remhid  you  that 
it  is  six  years  since  my  beloved  mother 
was  released  from  her  sufferings,  and 
entered  on  the  '  rest  that  remaineth  for 
the  people  of  God,'  and  just  one  year 
since  I  left  Newburyport  for  this  Mission, 
A  tbousand  recollections  render  it  a 
remarkable  day  to  me  ;  yet  I  have  no 
idea  of  dwelling  upon  them  as  I  write 
you.  I  ponder  them  in  my  heart,  wlien 
my  hands  are  busily  engaged  about  other 
things. 

"  My  two  girls  who  are  communicants, 

25 


374  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

are  I  hope  real  Christians  ;  they  certainly 
are  very  different  from  the  others,  and 
are  comforts  to  me.  They  seem  to  love 
the  Sabbath,  and  the  Bible,  Pilgrim's 
Progress,  and  other  good  books ;  and  I 
see  no  reason  to  think  that  onr  labor  is 
lost  upon  the  others,  though  the  seed  may 
not  spring  up  immediately. 

"  The  children  had  their  promised  party 
on  the  first  of  May.  Many  of  them  had 
wreaths  on  their  heads,  and  looked  very 
pretty.  They  behaved  very  well  indeed. 
Though  slow  in  their  motions  about  work, 
they  are  quick  enough  at  play,  and  are 
real  romps,  I  keep  a  rod  as  a  scare-crow, 
but  it  is  not  often  necessary  to  use  it. 

"•  Tliree  of  my  girls  liad  to  go  to  bed 
with  chills,  and  when  sick  they  cry  and 
moan  until  you  come  to  them,  so  that 
you  have  to  attend  to  them  in  self-defence, 
if  you  have  no  higher  motive.     Their  cry 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  375 

'  a-la,  a-la,'  (oh  dear),  is  very  mournful. 
A  physician  at  Boggy  Depot,  thinks  the 
chills  are  produced  by  miasma  from  the 
creeks.  I  think  our  house  stands  in  as 
healthy  a  situation  as  could  probably  be 
found  in  this  country.  I  supposed  I  should 
be  a  subject  for  chills,  but  have  escaped 
as  yet ;  whether  the  second  year  will  be 
as  healthy  for  me,  remains  to  be  seen.  I 
leave  it  quietly  in  my  Father's  hands. 
Diseases  are  his  servants. 

"  The  failure  of  payment  of  interest  on 
my  railroad  bonds,  though  unexpected, 
does  not  trouble  me.  The  God  who  has 
fed  me  all  my  life  long,  will  provide  for 
me  until  the  end  of  my  short  pilgrimage, 
and  why  should  I  distrust  his  care  ?  I 
do  not  expect  any  body  to  leave  me  a 
dollar,  and  am  glad  it  is  so.  I  had  rather 
draw  on  the  bank  of  faith,  and  have  no 
anxiety  respecting  my   temporal   support. 


376  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

Please  say  to  Miss  H.,  with  my  love,  that 
though  the  interest  on  my  bonds  was  not 
paid,  I  wish  lier  to  pay  ont  all  I  directed, 
and  I  shall  send  her  a  draft  in  July  to 
repay  her  all  she  may  advance.  We  have 
only  specie  here,  or  I  would  send  it  now. 

"  The  want  of  cleanliness  among  the 
children  has  been  a  great  trial  to  me. 
Some  of  the  ladies  thought  I  could  never 
teach  them  the  use  of  the  pocket  hand- 
kerchief; but  I  have  succeeded  ;  and  they 
are  trying  the  same  experiment.  Certainly 
they  do  improve,  although  we  do  not  see 
in  them  all  we  wish.  Yet  when  they  were 
all  dressed  clean,  in  their  new  calico 
dresses,  and  aprons,  their  hair  combed 
smoothly,  and  all  in  order  at  meeting, 
listening  to  the  preacher,  it  was  a  pleasant 
sight. 

"  On  Saturday  afternoon  Mr.  Wilson 
accompanied  the  ladies,  and  about  thirty 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  377 

girls,  ill  a  walk  to  see  some  of  the  sul> 
limities  of  this  region.  There  are  three 
of  the  caves  I  mentioned  before  on  the 
edge  of  the  creek.  I  had  been  to  them, 
and  looked  down  into  them  from  the  top, 
but  had  not  descended  the  precipitous 
bank  to  enter  them  from  below,  which  we 
all  did  on  Saturday.  We  scrambled  down 
among  the  rocks  as  best  we  could,  tearing 
our  dresses  sadly,  and  walked  into  the 
cave;  Turning  to  the  left,  in  a  kind  of 
closet,  we  found  a  bird's  nest  with  four 
eggs,  and  looking  up  over  head,  we  saw 
brake  and  violets  growing  out  of  small 
fissures  in  the  rocks.  After  this  we  crossed 
the  creek ;  Mr.  W.  chopping  down  limbs 
of  trees  to  lay  across,  on  which  we  walked, 
taking  a  large  stick  in  our  hands  to  pre- 
serve our  balance,  and  keep  us  from  falling 
into  the  water,  which  though  shallow, 
would  have  given  us  a  good  wetting,  had 


378  LIFE      AND     LETTERS 

we  made  a  mis-step.  After  we  were  all 
over,  we  climbed  up  the  bank  through 
the  rocks,  and  walked  on  to  see  other 
wonders.  Here  we  found  an  opening 
between  huge  rocks,  through  which  we 
walked  a  considerable  distance,  and  were 
constantly  discovering  grand  things.  This 
had  probably  been  one  immense  rock  of 
limestone,  but  the  action  of  the  creek 
beneath,  gradually  undermined  it,  causing 
it  to  separate,  and  parts  to  fall,  so  that 
there  is  a  vast  amphitheatre  between,  and 
we  look  up  perhaps  fifty  feet  on  each  side 
to  the  top  of  the  rock.  Trees  grow  in  the 
spaces,  and  some  of  the  girls  climbed  them, 
and  got  on  the  top  of  tlie  rocks,  though  it 
was  fearful  to  see  them  on  such  giddy 
heights,  but  they  climb  like  goats.  After 
walking  several  hundred  yards,  we  found 
our  way  out,  crossed  the  creek  at  a  much 
worse   place   than    the    other,  and    came 


MAEY     C.      GREEN  LEAF.  379 

safely  back  with  a  good  appetite  for  supper, 
and  I  trust  with  thankful  hearts  for  our 
preservation,  as  well  as  for  the  enjoyment 
we  had  in  viewing  the  wonderful  works 
of  God. 

"  In  walking,  the  greatest  dread  I  have 
is  the  ticks ;  they  are  so  insidious  in  their 
movements,  you  know  nothing  of  them 
until  they  are  embedded  in  the  skin.  Last 
August,  I  walked  out  with  a  little  girl 
who  was  visiting  here,  and  I  think  a  hun- 
dred seed  ticks,  not  as  big  as  a  pin's  head, 
occasioned  me  a  good  deal  of  suffering 
for  two  months,  the  bites  not  healing  until 
October ;  but  I  know  now  I  must  just 
walk  in  the  road,  and  not  go  off  among 
the  bushes. 

"  Should  I  occupy  the  same  department 
another  year,  as  I  hope  to  do,  my  labors 
will  not  be  so  heavy,  because  I  have  all 
the  clothing  mended  weekly,  and  shall  have 


380  LIFE      AND     LETTERS 

SO  much  more  order  in  arrangement,  I  can 
get  along  more  easily.  In  hot  weather 
the  chiklren  enjoy  swimming  in  the  creek, 
and  perform  their  ablutions  there,  and 
this  lightens  my  labor  somewhat. 

"  Jane  Greenleaf  is  full  of  life  and 
spirits.  She  is  an  interesting  child,  and 
has  none  of  the  stubborn,  intractable  ways 
which  some  have  ;  but  I  fear  she  does  not 
understand  any  thing  of  the  Gospel,  though 
I  try  to  explain  it  to  her  by  pictures,  of 
which  all  arc  very  fond." 


To  THE  Misses  T.,  of  N.  P. 

"  Although  ten  unanswered  letters  lie 
on  my  table,  I  leave  them  there,  tliat  I 
may  fulfill  my  promise  to  you  made  before 
I  left  liome.  Had  I  written  as  soon  as  I 
wished,  you  would  have  received  a  letter 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAP.  381 


long  since  ;  but  though  writing  is  a  recre- 
ation, I  am  obliged  to  deny  myself  while 
more  than  thirty  girls  require  my  atten- 
tion ;  for  when  they  are  in  school,  or  at 
play,  I  am  cutting  and  fitting  work,  and 
doing  many  other  things  for  them.  We, 
wlio  have  the  care  of  the  children  out  of 
school,  have  many  secular  duties  to  per- 
form, the  same  that  a  mother  has,  still 
we  have  plenty  of  opportunities  to  impart 
moral  and  religious  instruction,  and  woe 
be  unto  us  if  we  neglect  them.  To  gain 
their  affections  is  very  important,  and  in 
this  I  trust  we  have  succeeded,  if  we  may 
judge  from  the  frequency  of  their  visits 
to  our  private  rooms  in  play  hours.  They 
sometimes  flock  to  them  so  as  to  be  an 
annoyance,  but  we  do  not  like  to  forbid 
or  repel  them,  lest  we  should  lose  one 
important  means  of  usefulness.  The  Sab- 
bath is  the  day  that  requires  more  grace 


382  LIFE    AND    LETTERS 

than  any  other,  for  we  never  have  a  meet- 
ing in  the  afternoon,  and  there  are  so 
many  hours  I  must  be  with  them,  and  try 
to  interest  and  instruct  them,  and  at  the 
same  time  not  increase  their  natural  aver- 
sion to  the  day. 

"  I  was  surprised  to  hear  of  the  death 
of  Mrs.  Codman.  For  her  we  cannot 
mourn  ;  she  has  been  a  very  great  sufferer 
for  years,  and  we  have  no  reason  to  doubt 
that  she  has  joined  the  innumerable  mul- 
titude, who  '  have  come  out  of  great 
tribulation,  and  have  washed  their  robes 
and  made  them  white  in  the  blood  of 
the  Lamb.'  She  was  a  very  dear  cousin 
to  me,  always  kind,  libera'l,  and  sympa- 
thetic, and  encouraged  me  much  respecting 
coming  here. 

"  No  Missionary  has  ever  died  at  this 
place, — all  leave  in  a  few  years,  many 
losing    their    health     from    over-working. 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.         6b6 

The  truth  is,  we  are  so  scantily  provided 
with  laborers,  that  almost  all  do  too  much. 
The  Board  would  send  more  if  they  could 
get  them.  The  low  state  of  religion  in 
our  churches  must  be  the  cause,  most 
'  seek  their  own,  not  the  things  which 
are  Jesus  Christ's.'  I  shall  probably  leave 
in  a  few  years,  as  I  shall  be  too  old  to 
do  all  the  work  required  here.  Then  I 
hope  to  return  to  Newburyport,  and  do 
something  there,  if  the  Lord  will.  If  not, 
'  His  will  be  done.'  I  do  not  regret  coming 
here.  I  think  I  shall  at  least  learn  some- 
thing myself,  if  I  do  no  good  to  others  ; 
and  the  experience  of  the  goodness  of  God 
to  me  on  the  journey,  and  since  I  came, 
is  invaluable." 


384  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

To  Master  T.  V.,  of  N.  P. 

Eight  years  of  age. 

"  May  18th. 

"  I  heard  last  week  through  a  friend, 
that  jou  wanted  to  come  and  see  me  ;  and 
I  am  glad  you  still  remember  aunt  Mary ; 
but  you  cannot  come,  I  am  so  far  from 
you.  On  the  very  day  I  received  that 
letter,  as  I  was  rambling  on  the  prairies 
with  some  of  my  little  girls,  I  thought 
of  you,  and  how  much  you  would  enjoy 
such  a  walk.  There  were  forty-five  calves 
there,  and  whenever  we  came  near  them 
they  would  race  off,  frolicking  as  they 
went.  They  were  of  different  sizes, — some 
quite  large,  others  so  little,  it  was  quite 
amusing  to  witness  their  gambols. 

"  Whenever  the  girls  go  out  with  me, 
they  pluck  flowers  in  great  abundance,  so 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  385 

I  have  my  hands  entirely  full  when  I 
return,  and  every  day  when  they  go  out 
alone,  they  gather  so  many,  and  bring  to 
me,  I  frequently  throw  away  an  armfull 
at  once.  This  may  seem  a  large  story  to 
you,  but  it  is  strictly  true  ;  and  as  you 
always  liked  flowers,  I  know  you  would 
enjoy  seeing  so  many. 

"We  have  three  nice  dogs  here;  the 
largest  has  a  very  bad  name,  Scamp,  but 
he  is  a  very  good  dog  notwithstanding. 
Rover  and  Tyler  are  the  names  of  the 
others.  They  often  accompany  us  in  our 
walks.  We  have  also,  ducks,  hens,  and 
pretty  little  chickens.  We  have  several 
horses,  but  they  have  to  work  so  much, 
that  we  seldom  ride  on  them.  There  is 
the  body  of  a  broken  wagon,  which  Mr. 
Wilson  allows  the  girls  to  play  with. 
It  has  four  good  wheels,  so  some  of  the 
girls  get  on  it,  and  the  others  race  with 


386  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

them  as  rapidly  as  the  fleetest  horses. 
Yet  most  of  them  love  to  go  to  school, 
and  are  quite  still  and  attentive  there.  A 
little  one  not  larger  than  your  sister,  is 
quite  a  singer,  and  a  very  great  talker. 
I  am  often  amused  with  her  conversation 
in  Chickasaw,  though  I  do  not  understand 
a  word  of  it ;  but  I  smile  and  say  '  yes,' 
once  in  a  while,  and  that  is  quite  satis- 
factory to  her. 

"  During  my  journey  to  this  place,  on 
board  the  steamboat  from  Louisville  to 
Cairo,  we  had  a  great  number  of  passen- 
gers, nearly  four  hundred,  and  among 
them  many  children.  There  were  four 
or  five  black  mothers,  in  whose  children 
I  was  much  interested.  There  was  little 
Dick,  about  five  years  old,  who  enjoyed 
playing  bo-peep  with  me  very  much ;  but 
little  Johnny  and  Andrew  were  my  special 
favorites.     Johnny   was   only   two   and   a 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  387 

half  years  old,  yet  he  was  dressed  in  jacket 
and  pants,  and  being  very  short,  and 
turning  out  his  toes  veiy  gracefully,  he 
attracted  much  attention. 

"  But  I  am  writing  a  very  long  letter, 
and  as  you  cannot  read  a  word  of  it,  I  will 
not  weary  your  dear  mother  to  read  any 
more,  so  hoping  you  will  be  one  of  the 
very  best  boys  in  the  world,  I  will  bid 
you  good-bye,  after  saying  that  my  first 
desire  for  you  is,  that  you  may  love  Christ, 
now,  while  you  are  young,  that  so  you 
may  rejoice  and  be  glad  all  your  days, 
and  live  to  do  good  to  others.  Can  you 
not  write  me  a  little  letter  ?  I  presume 
you  write  at  school,  and  if  it  were  only 
one  line,  I  should  like  to  have  it." 


388  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

To  Miss  A.  P.,  of  N.  P. 

''May  22d. 
"  The  school  will  close  the  first  clay 
of  July.  Two  ladies  are  expected  here 
ill  the  autumn,  whom  we  shall  gladly 
welcome.  We  need  a  third  school,  for 
the  two  are  too  full,  making  it  too  labo- 
rious for  the  teachers.  I  am  not  hurried 
with  work  now.  During  the  session,  the 
girls  have  made  eighty-five  dresses,  fifty- 
seven  skirts,  one  hundred  and  one  aprons, 
nine  sacks,  four  pillow  cases,  five  suits  of 
clothes  for  the  negro  men  and  boys,  three 
table  cloths,  twelve  towels,  more  than  a 
hundred  pocket  handkerchiefs,  besides 
sacks  for  bacon,  curtains  for  the  wagon, 
and  some  other  things ;  also,  patch-work 
enough  for  a  bed  quilt.  All  these  gar- 
ments  I   cut,   and   the   majority  of  them 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  389 

basted  ;  and  during  the  first  part  of  the 
session,  made  most  of  the  button-holes,  and 
occasionally  finished  off  a  garment  when 
it  was  wanted  immediately.  But  of  late 
all  this,  and  also  the  mending,  have  been 
done  by  the  girls.  They  also  do  their  iron- 
ing, sweep  and  wash  the  part  of  the  house 
we  occupy,  so  that  on  a  review  of  what 
has  been  accomplished,  it  seems  as  much 
as  could  reasonably  be  expected  of  any 
school  girls.  Jane  Greenleaf,  who  could 
scarcely  use  a  needle  when  she  came,  can 
hem  a  skirt,  and  make  an  apron  sleeve 
so  well,  that  I  sec  she  has  much  improved. 
I  think  she  has  the  brightest  intellect  of  any 
one  here;  a  most  amiable  temper,  and  is  very 
attractive  with  all  her  faults.  With  proper 
training,  she  will  make  a  fine  woman. 

"  The  grasses  on  the  prairies  look  beau- 
tifully. The  variety  of  their  colors  in  some 
cases,  is   very   surprising, — in  some  parts 

26 


890  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

they  ba?e  tlie  appearance  of  a  variegated 
carpet.  Among  the  flowers  are  the  red 
and  yellow  coreopsis,  purple  phlox,  a  white 
flower  resembling  candy-tuft,  and  one 
which  grows  on  a  stalk  like  Canterbury 
bells,  but  of  a  greenish  white  color,  and 
shaped  much  like  a  tulip,  another  looks 
like  a  blue  lupin,  and  we  have  the  finest 
rural  prospects  all  around  here,  and  much 
to  lead  the  mind  '  through  nature,  up  to 
nature's  God.' 

"  The  fifteenth  of  this  month  was  the 
anniversary  of  my  departure  from  home 
for  this  place,  and  also  of  the  death  of  my 
dear  mother.  The  year  has  passed  rapidly. 
I  have  enjoyed  much,  awd  had  but  few 
trials.  What  awaits  me  another  year,  I 
do  not  know,  whether  I  shall  be  as  well 
as  in  the  last;  but  I  do  not  wish  to  know: 

'  'Tis  enough  that  God  will  care, 
Why  should  I  the  burden  bear  ?  ' " 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  391 


To  Mrs.  J.  B.,  of  N.  P. 


"  June  ^d. 
*'  I  am  going  to  vrrite  you  a  short  letter,  to 
let  you  know  that,  Providence  permitting, 
I  shall  go  to  Stockbridge,  Choctaw  nation, 
the  second  week  in  July,  to  pass  a  few 
weeks  in  that  region,  and  I  wish  your 
next  letter  directed  there.  It  is  more  than 
a  hundred  miles  from  this  place ;  and  I 
should  not  have  decided  to  go,  had  not 
Mr.  Byington  written  for  me  to  come.  He 
is  an  old  friend,  and  was  not  at  home  when 
I  was  at  his  house  last  year ;  and  cannot 
leave  liis  preaching  to  come  here.  When 
I  arrived  at  Wapanucka  last  July,  I  was 
so  tired  of  traveling,  I  thought  nothing 
would  induce  me  to  leave  this  spot,  until 
I  started  for  home,  but  as  I  have  seen  very 
little  of  the  Missionaries,  and  Mr.  Byington 


392  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

writes  very  urgently  for  me  to  go,  I  think 
I  shall,  hoping  to  gain  much  information 
from  those  old  Missionaries  who  have 
toiled  so  faithfully  in  the  vineyard  of  the 
Lord." 


To  Miss  M.  P.  S. 

''June  11th. 
"  When  Mr.  Wilson  returned  from  the 
depot,  there  were  five  letters  for  me.  Some 
of  the  boxes  from  New  York  have  arrived, 
and  my  package  from  Newburyport  taken 
out.  I  have  just  finished  opening  it  this 
morning,  and  looking  at  the  articles,  and 
reading  the  kind  notes  in  them ;  and  I 
cannot  express  half  I  wish.  Your  kind- 
ness is  indeed  felt;  your  birthday  presents, 
and  those  of  my  other  friends  were  most 
unexpected,   and   they    awaken   so    many 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  393 

emotions  as  to  take  away  tlie  power  of 
utterance.  I  am  truly  gratified  by  such 
tokens  of  love,  and  may  God  reward  you 
for  all  your  continued  kindness,  and  stimu- 
late me  to  greater  efforts  in  his  service. 

"  One  of  my  friends  wishes  to  know 
if  I  am  studying  Chickasaw.  I  am  not. 
It  is  a  difficult  matter  to  learn  that  lan- 
guage, and  of  very  little  use,  as  the  teach- 
ing is  all  in  English.  For  a  preacher  it 
is  very  important,  and  Mr.  Wilson  studies 
it  in  the  hope  of  being  able  to  preach 
without  an  interpreter,  but  it  will  probably 
be  several  years  before  he.  can  do  this. 
I  was  talking  with  him  the  other  day  about 
this  territory,  and  he  thinks  in  twenty 
years  it  will  be  a  part  of  the  United  States, 
the  majority  of  the  inhabitants  be  white, 
or  half  breeds,  as  so  many  white  men  are 
settling  here,  and  intermarrying  with  In- 
dians, or  bringing   wives  with   them ;    so 


394  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

that  it  is  very  important,  we  now  do  all 
we  can  for  their  education  and  Christian- 
ization.  The  few  phrases  of  their  language 
which  I  pick  up,  are  of  some  use,  such 
as  Ul-pa-sah  (that  is  right),  Ik-sho  (none), 
Minta  (come),  Oke-she-tah  (shut  the  door), 
which  last  I  have  to  say  many  times  a 
day  in  winter.  If  I  were  twenty  years 
younger,  and  expected  to  remain  here  as 
long  as  I  live,  perhaps  I  should  try  to  learn 
it ;  but  at  present  have  no  time,  but  to 
add  a  little  to  my  stock. 

"  Saturday,  13^A.  One  of  my  oldest  and 
best  girls,  Cornelia,  is  quite  sick.  Mr. 
Wilson  understands  a  good  deal  about 
medicine,  and  I  go  to  him  always  for 
advice  in  every  severe  case.  I  do  not 
wonder  the  children  have  chills,  for  they 
will  go  out  in  the  morning  after  a  heavy 
rain,  and  sit  down  on  the  ground  to  play. 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  395 


They  have  not  the  smallest  degree  of 
prudence,  and  were  it  not  for  the  kindest 
Providence,  they  would  be  sick  half  the 
time.  I  believe  every  one  of  mine,  but 
two,  has  had  some  sickness  during  the 
session,  which  required  attention  and 
medicine,  but  God  has  carried  me  through 
very  comfortably." 


To  E.  Wheelwright,  Esq.,  of  N.  P. 

"  Jnne  \Qtk. 
"  Yours  of  the  16th  ult.  came  yesterday, 
and  was  very  welcome.  Though  you  are 
so  considerate  as  not  to  exact  an  answer, 
I  have  nothing  to  prevent  my  returning 
one  to-day.  It  is  a  recreation  to  write 
my  friends,  though  I  sometimes  think  my 
letters  are  almost  impositions.  But  having 
confidence  in  their  kindness,  I  shall  keep 


396  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

up  the  communication  which  is  so  inter- 
esting to  me,  if  not  to  them. 

"  I  know  you  feel  the  death  of  your 
beloved  sister,  (Mrs.  Codman),  most  sen- 
sibly, however  willing  you  are  to  resign 
her  to  the  will  of  God.  These  bereave- 
ments have  a  wise,  as  well  as  kind  design  ; 
they  teach  us  lessons,  which  we  learn  no 
where  else ;  and  happy  will  it  be  for  us,  if 
they  are  suitably  improved.  To  mc,  her 
death  was  a  very  affecting  event,  having 
written  to  her  just  before  I  received  the 
news  of  her  release  from  her  sufferings, 
and  when  she  had  been  dead  a  month. 

"  It  was  communion  here  last  Sabbath, 
as  it  was  with  you.  It  was  very  pleasant 
to  me,  to  have  it  on  the  same  day.  Our 
services,  which  commenced  on  Saturday 
morning,  were  held  in  a  bower,  not  very 
far  off.  It  is  the  custom  in  this  territory, 
whenever   the   Lord's    Supper    is    admin- 


JtARY     C.     GREENLEAF.         397 


istered,  to  have  a  two  days'  meeting,  and 
notice  of  it  is  circulated  for  some  weeks 
previous,  so  that  there  is  quite  a  gathering 
of  Indians,  some  of  whom  come  twelve 
and  twenty  miles  to  attend.  As  we  can 
accommodate  but  a  small  number  in  the 
house,  they  encamp  out  of  doors,  building 
a  fire,  &c.  Our  place  of  meeting  was  a 
very  pleasant  one.  It  was  on  the  side  of 
the  road,  and  woods  all  around  it,  the 
birds  singing  sweetly  in  them.  Though 
a  very  warm  day,  the  sun  was  often  behind 
clouds,  and  a  fresh  breeze  through  the 
bower  made  it  comfortable.  Four  of  our 
girls,  from  fourteen  to  seventeen  years  old, 
were  baptized,  and  received  into  the  church 
on  the  Sabbath.  Mr.  Wilson  told  me  they 
had  a  very  rigid  examination,  and  the 
session  wore  satisfied  with  the  evidence 
they  gave  of  being  born  again.  It  was 
very   affecting   to    see   them   kneeling   on 


398  LIFE     AND     LETTERS^ 

the  bare  ground,  while  the  waters  of 
baptism  were  applied.  Many  of  the  Indians 
sing  beautifully.  Both  the  officiating 
deacons  were  Indians,  very  fine  looking 
men,  and  behaved  with  the  utmost  pro- 
priety. Three  small  girls,  under  the  care 
of  Mrs.  Jones,  applied  for  admission,  but 
the  session  thought  it  best  to  put  them 
off  for  the  present,  and  three  of  my  girls 
presented  themselves  as  inquirers ;  but  I 
fear  they  do  not  feel  deeply. 

"  One  of  my  largest  girls  is  sick,  and 
has  not  been  able  to  sit  up  for  four  days. 
She  has  dysentery.  The  weather  is  very 
warm,  but  I  seldom  walk  out  until  nearly 
sunset,  and  thus  escape  the  intense  heat. 
It  is  a  favor  to  us,  in  this  warm  climate, 
that  we  do  not  have  as  much  labor  now 
as  in  the  winter,  although  sickness  occa- 
sions more  steps,  and  increases  our  cares 
very  much.     My  own  health  remains  un- 


MAEY     C.     GREENLEAF.         399 

impaired,  and  were  it  not  for  sickness 
among  the  girls,  I  should  have  a  compara- 
tively easy  time. 

"  I  shall  probably  return  to  Newbury- 
port  at  the  expiration  of  three  years,  as 
I  shall  not  be  equal  to  the  labor  required 
here  ;  and  do  not  wish  to  run  the  risk 
of  being  a  burden  to  the  Mission.  This, 
however,  I  must  leave  in  the  hands  of  God, 
trusting  he  will  make  the  path  of  duty 
plain,  and  where  He  appoints,  there  would 
I  go.  I  have  a  very  low  opinion  of  my 
fitness  for  the  work  here,  but  have  hoped, 
if  no  other  good  resulted  from  my  coming, 
that  some,  better  qualified,  might  be  in- 
duced to  go  from  New  England,  to  some 
part  of  the  heathen  world. 

"  I  hope  you  were  able  to  attend  the 
communion  at  our  church  in  Newburyport, 
and  that  it  was  a  good  season  for  all. 
My  thoughts  were   frequently   with  you. 


400  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

My  dear  mother  used  to  say,  '  Now  as  we 
come  down  from  the  mount  of  ordinances, 
we  must  be  more  watchful,  lest  we  be 
overcome  by  temptation." 


To  Miss  P.  H.,  of  N.  P. 

''June  20th. 
"  While  I  look  after  three  sick  girls, 
I  will  write  a  few  lines.  The  older  mis- 
sionaries say  they  have  never  known  any 
severe  cases  of  sickness  in  this  institution 
at  this  season  of  the  year ;  but  just  as  we 
were  flattering  ourselves  with  the  hope  of 
a  little  comparative  rest  from  labor,  the 
dysentery  made  its  appearance  among  iis, 
and  the  cases  hitherto  have  been  very 
obstinate.  It  is  a  week  to-day  since  it 
commenced  among  my  girls,  and  Cornelia 
only  sits   up  a  short  time.     Poor  things. 


MAEY     C.     GREENLEAF.         401 

I  know  they  suffer  a  great  deal,  and  so  I 
try  to  do  all  that  can  be  done  for  them. 

"  The  boxes  from  New  York  came  last 
week,  and  in  them  my  packages  so  care- 
fully done  up  by  you.  You  .have  not  left 
off  your  kindness  to  me,  and  I  sincerely 
thank  you  for  whatever  was  your  gift. 
Some  things  from  other  friends  I  have 
acknowledged  to  them.  There  was  one 
article,  however,  which  is  especially  val- 
uable, and  though  with  characteristic  mod- 
esty, no  name  was  found  at  the  close, 
I  recognized  at  once  the  hand-writing  of 
your  sister  S.  I  beg  you  to  say  to  her, 
how  very  acceptable  the  communication 
was,  and  thank  her  for  writing  it.  I  have 
already  read  it  more  than  once,  and  when 
I  am  more  at  leisure,  expect  to  read  it 
often.  All  the  other  articles  were  perfectly 
satisfactory. 

"  The  weather  here  now  is  very  delight- 


402  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

ful,  not  excessively  warm.  We  have 
frequent  showers,  and  have  vegetables 
from  the  garden.  School  closes  in  ten 
days,  and  then  we  can  rest,  and  prepare 
for  future  labors.  There  is  a  good  deal 
of  excitement  among  the  children  in  pre- 
paring for  examination;  but  the  teachers 
in  school  feel  it  more  than  I  do.  My 
health  is  still  good,  and  I  have  a  multitude 
of  mercies.  If  I  go  away  from  here  in 
vacation,  shall  miss  letters  very  much, 
but  hope  to  find  many  on  my  return. 

"  With   love   to   all    friends,  I  remain 
yours  affectionately  and  gratefully, 

"  M.  C.  G." 
(The  postmark  on  this  letter  was  June 
26th,  the  day  the  writer  died.) 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.         403 

To  THE  Rev.  Dr.  Dana,  of  Newburyport. 

From   Kev.    C.  H.  Wilson,    Superintendent  of  the 
Wapanucka  Mission. 

"  Wapanucka  Institute, 

July  Sd,  1857. 
"  My  dear  Sir, 

"  I  begin  this  letter  with  sadness  in 
my  own  heart,  and  it  will  carry  sadness 
to  yours  also.  Your  relative  and  my  friend 
has  been  called  away  from  this  earth.  I 
know  not  with  what  words  to  accompany 
this  intelligence.  Our  first  thoughts  were 
certainly  about  our  own  loss,  and  it  was 
not  until  afterwards  it  came  to  our  minds 
that  there  were  others  more  interested 
than  ourselves.  Doubtless  the  course  that 
will  give  you  the  most  satisfaction,  will 
be  to  tell  you  of  her  sickness  and  death. 

"  Quite   a  number   of  the   Indian  girls 


404  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

under  her  immediate  charge,  had  dysen- 
tery, and  for  more  than  ten  days  she  had 
been  unremitting  in  her  attentions  to 
them.  I  thought  she  did  not  seem  quite 
well  herself;  and  from  time  to  time  cau- 
tioned her  to  intrust  the  more  active 
attentions  to  some  of  the  older  girls.  She 
did  so  only  in  part.  On  Sabbath,  June 
21st,  she  acknowledged  she  had  had  the 
same  disease  for  a  few  days,  but  very 
slightly.  I  insisted  that  she  would  then 
leave  all  the  nursing  of  the  sick  to  the 
older  girls  under  my  direction,  and  lie 
down  quietly  herself.  She  consented,  and 
at  once  took  the  medicine  which  I  advised. 
She  did  not  get  better,  but  rather  worse, 
until  Monday  evening.  Then  she  began 
to  be  better,  and  continued  so  until  Thurs- 
day morning,  when  she  became  worse,  and 
continued  to  grow  worse  all  day.  I  saw 
that   she   seemed  to  be    worse,  but  when 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAP.  405 

I  frequently  inquired  as  to  her  symptoms, 
she  gave  me  such  statements  as  to  make 
me  think  I  was  mistaken.  She  was  not 
aware  herself  of  some  of  the  worst  features 
of  her  disease.  Towards  evening  I  felt 
so  sure  of  her  being  worse,  I  immediately 
resumed  the  medicines,  and  during  the 
night  thought  she  was  a  little  better.  Soon 
after  daylight  the  disease  returned  with 
more  violence  than  ever ;  in  an  hour  she 
was  unconscious,  in  half  an  hour  more, 
speechless,  and  sunk  rapidly.  The  last 
two  hours  she  seemed  to  be  in  distress, 
until  only  a  few  minutes,  before  she  died, 
when  her  breathing  became  easy,  and  she 
sank  quietly  to  rest.  She  died  about 
twelve  o'clock  Friday,  June  twenty-sixth, 
and  was  laid  in  her  grave  on  Saturday, 
twenty-seventh,  about  six  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon.  This  much  in  regard  to  her 
bodily  state. 

27 


406  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

"  So  many  of  our  scholars  were  sick, 
I  had  but  little  opportunity  to  converse 
with  her,  in  regard  to  spiritual  matters. 
On  Tuesday  morning,  when  I  thought 
she  was  decidedly  better,  I  asked  her  if 
she  was  as  cheerful  when  sick,  and  as 
ready  to  go  if  God  should  call  her,  as  she 
had  always  been  to  labor  for  His  glory, 
and  the  good  of  her  scholars  ?  Her  reply 
was,  '  I  feel  quite  willing  to  go  if  God  see 
fit  to  call  me,  but  I  have  a  strong  faith 
that  he  will  spare  me  for  the  sake  of  these 
dear  girls.  I  know  He  will  if  he  thinks 
best.'  To  Mrs.  Jones,  (one  of  our  ladies, 
with  whom  she  was  perhaps  most  intimate), 
she  frequently  made  the  same  remark, 
without  being  asked.  This  lady  spoke  to 
her,  and  requested  her  to  give  some  sign 
of  consciousness  about  two  hours  before 
she  died.     She  gave  none. 

"  She   refused  to  have  any  one  of  the 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  407 

ladies  attend  lier  at  iiiglit,  until  Thursday 
night.  Two  of  them  remained  with  her 
all  that  night.  She  told  me  she  preferred 
to  have  Amy,  (this  was  one  of  her  oldest 
Chickasaw  girls).  She,  and  one  other, 
Cornelia,  were  her  constant  attendants. 
I  saw  her  myself  every  few  hours,  and 
the  ladies  of  the  house  were  often  with 
her.  To  one  of  them  who  asked  her  what 
she  could  do  for  her,  she  said,  '  Give  me 
more  air.' 

"  To  all  her  girls  she  had  endeared  herself 
very  much,  but  Amy  and  Cornelia  seemed 
to  feel  her  death  very  much.  They  are 
both,  we  hope,  pious  girls.  One  doubtless 
owes  her  first  real,  earnest  seriousness, 
under  God,  to  Miss  G.  The  other  was 
seriously  impressed,  and  I  think  truly 
pious,  long  before  she  came ;  but  even 
she  owes  much  of  her  present  advancement 
in  Christian  life  to  her  also. 


408  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

"  These  last  named  are  but  two  of  a 
large  number  of  facts,  which  show  that 
her  short  stay  with  us  was  far  from  useless. 
She  came  among  us  a  stranger,  but  we 
soon  learned  to  love  her.  Her  humility, 
and  child-like  simplicity,  made  us  feel 
that  she  was  our  sister.  Her  age.  Christian 
experience,  and  ripe  judgment,  made  us 
feel  that  she  was  almost  our  mother.  So 
it  was  often  hard  to  define  the  nature  of 
our  aftection  for  her.  And  then  her  cheer- 
ful, joyful  energy,  diffused  itself  through 
our  whole  household. 

"  To  me  the  loss  is  great.  But  a  youth- 
ful Christian  yet,  I  am  here  by  virtue  of 
office,  the  head  of  all  this  household,  and 
to  me  all  are  inclined  to  look  up.  I  had 
no  one  to  whom  I  could  look  up,  until 
she  came.  Now  she  is  taken,  and  again 
God  only  is  left,  to  whom  I  can  look  up. 
To  many  of  our  people  she  had  become 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAP.         409 

attached,  and  thej  to  her.  Her  sympathy 
and  interest  went  beyond  the  school,  and 
took  in  all  the  members  of  our  little 
church,  and  indeed  of  this  whole  people. 
Quite  a  number  of  them  attended  her 
funeral.  The  remarks  I  made  from  the 
words,  '  I  am  ready  to  be  offered,  <fec.,' 
were  interpreted  to  them,  and  I  thought 
they  seemed  more  than  usually  impressed 
with  the  truth,  that  only  the  believers  in 
Christ  have  ground  for  cheerful  hope  in 
view  of  death.  Though  dead,  she  still 
speaks  to  us,  who  were  her  companions 
in  labor,  and  to  those  who  were  under  her 
charge. 

"  It  may  perliaps  occur  to  some  that 
she  was  a  sacrifice  to  the  climate,  or 
unhealthfulness  of  the  country.  I  feel 
sure  that  such  was  not  the  case.  Fever 
and  ague  is  the  prevailing  climate  disease. 
She  had  none  of  that.     Many  of  us  escape 


410  LIFE    AND    LETTEES 

it  entirely.  Dysentery  was  to  some  extent, 
epidemic  in  our  school.  It  was  not  hard 
to  manage  in  the  case  of  young  persons ; 
and  all  the  girls  who  were  permitted  to 
remain  under  our  care,  have  recovered. 
She  had  done  too  much  for  the  sick,  taking 
more  care  than  was  absolutely  needful  of 
those  who  are  accustomed  to  recover  with 
so  little  care  at  home. 

"  I  have  now  given  you  all  that  occurs 
to  my  mind,  with  regard  to  her  sickness 
and  death.  We  have  heard  her  speak  of 
you  as  her  uncle,  and  somewhat  as  her 
friendly  guardian.  You  will  write  me  in 
regard  to  her  things  left  here. 

"  With  most  heartfelt  sympathy,  and 
yet  a  blessed  assurance  of  her  unspeak- 
able happiness,  I  am,  dear  sir,  yours  in 
Christ.  C.  H.  Wilson." 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.         411 


CHAPTER    YI. 


"  Go  fearless  then,  my  soul,  with  God, 

Into  another  room; 
Thou  hast  walked  with  him  here, — 
Go,  see  tky  God  at  h<sme." 

Rev.  Andrew  Fuller. 


We  feel  eoiistrained  to  give  copious  ex- 
tracts from  the  letter  just  received  from 
Miss  Lee,  in  reply  to  one  written  by  the 
friend  who  has  taken  such  pleasure  in  ar- 
ranging those  of  Miss  Greenleaf.  We  have 
no  time  left  in  which  to  ascertain  the  con- 
sent of  either  Miss  Barber,  or  herself,  and 
must  rely  upon  their  candor,  to  excuse  the 
liberty  thus  taken.  To  the  personal  friends 
of  Miss  Greenleaf,  and  we  trust  to  others, 
these  extracts  will  be  deeply  interesting. 
A  few  of  the  details  introduced  here  and 
elsewhere,   may   appear    to  some    readers 


412  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

unworthy  a  place  in  her  annals.  But  it 
may  be  well  to  consider  that  the  manner  of 
performing,  or  the  evading'  the  humbler 
duties  of  life,  goes  far  to  making  up  the 
character,  and  also  best  exhibits  it.*  Who 
can  count  the  touches  of  the  true  artist, 
or  the  small  love-deeds  of  the  true  disciple  ? 
Jesus,  the  master,  says,  '  He  that  is  faithful 
in  tliat  which  is  least,  is  faithful  also  in 
much.' 


To    Mrs.    J.   B. 

"  Wapanucka,  Nov.  16th,  1857. 
"*  *  *  *  Miss  Greenleaf's  friends 
seem  to  liave  loved  her  so  dearly,  that 
now,  every  word  spoken  in  her  praise 
must  be  grateful.  And  how  else  could  we 
speak  of  one  so  superior  ?     Long  will  the 

*  Appendix,  F. 


MARY     C.      GREENLEAF.  413 

example  she  set  us  here,  of  ardent  devoted 
piety,  of  unceasing  faithfuhiess  in  her 
work,  of  uniform  cheerfuhiess,  of  forge t- 
fuhiess  of  self;  ever  putting  in  practice 
the  Scripture  rule,  '  in  honor  preferring 
one  another,'  of  politeness  and  courtesy  to 
all ;  long  will  they  live  in  our  memories, 
prompting  us,  I  trust,  to  do  likewise,  to 
follow  her  as  she  followed  Christ.  My 
acquaintance  with  her  was  limited,  as  we 
were  engaged  in  different  duties ;  and  so 
faithful  was  she,  that  few  moments  were 
unemployed,  so  that  I  could  see  but  little 
of  her.  But  her  room  was  over  mine,  her 
sitting-room  close  by,  and  never  did  I  meet 
her  without  receiving  a  kind  smile,  and 
pleasant  cheerful  words  from  her.  No 
matter  how  great  the  press  of  work,  or 
many  the  vexations  of  duty,  she  was 
always  the  same.  Leaving  her  cares  in 
her  own  room,  she  was  polite  to  all.     I  can 


414  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

but  recall  the  many  times  I  have  seen  her 
going  with  her  arms  full  of  old  clothes, 
with  her  usual  quick  step  to  her  room,  to 
spend  the  day  in  mending,  looking  as 
bright  as  though  some  pleasant  occupation 
were  in  store  for  her.  For  all  this  indus- 
try, she  was  fully  repaid  by  seeing  her 
girls  neat  and  clean.  During  the  sum- 
mer, I  was  unable  to  do  any  sewing.  She 
frequently  offered  her  girls  to  assist  me. 
For  six  weeks,  she  sent  me  Cornelia,  her 
best  sewer,  and  her  favorite  too,  to  help 
me  every  morning  for  two  hours.  This  to 
me  at  that  time,  under  the  circumstances, 
was  the  kindest  act  which  could  have  been 
done,  for  which  I  shall  ever  feel  grateful. 
"  The  effect  of  her  lady-like  delicacy  and 
refinement  of  manner,  was  seen  in  the 
conduct  of  her  girls.  In  her  presence, 
rudeness  and  irreligion  were  rebuked,  even 
in    the    mind    of    an    untutored   Indian. 


MAEY     C.     GREENLEAP.         415 

Would  that  many  more  like  her  would 
come  and  teach  this  people.  And  for  my- 
self, I  would  express  the  same  wish,  for  I 
deemed  it  an  honor,  a  privilege,  to  live 
with  her.'' 

"  In  the  beginning  of  a  new  term  we  all 
miss  her,  and  mourn  afresh.  But  if  we, 
who  knew  her  only  one  year,  grieve,  how 
deep  must  be  the  grief  of  those  at  home. 
Ah,  well  I  know,  none  ever  love,  as  do 
friends  and  kindred  at  home.  '  Earthly 
affection  is  deepened  and  intensified  by 
increased  familiarity  with  its  object.  The 
friendship  of  yesterday,  is  not  the  sacred, 
hallowed  thing  which  years  of  growing  in- 
tercourse have  matured.'  Deeply  do  I  sym- 
pathize with  you  all,  and  though  you  loved 
her  more,  yet  may  I  not  say,  in  doing  good 
she  is  as  much  missed  here.  I  was  much 
struck  this  autumn,  in  traveling  the  same 
route  which  Miss  Greenleaf  did,  to  hear  so 


416  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

many  inquiries  made  for  her.  She  seemed 
to  have  left  the  impress  of  her  goodness 
everywhere.  One  old  lady,  out  in  Arkan- 
sas, said  to  me,  '  I  was  sorry  to  hear  of  her 
death,  she  was  so  good.  She  seemed  the 
image  of  the  Father.'  Miss  Greenleaf  had 
spent  some  days  with  her. 

"  You  have  heard  from  others  of  her 
sickness.  For  one  so  strong,  so  energetic, 
she  '  went  down'  rapidly.  Her  voice  grew 
feeble  some  days  before  she  died,  and 
she  seemed  indisposed  to  converse.  Still 
she  would  insist  upon  helping  herself  to 
the  last.  She  always  said  she  was  better. 
She  would  insist  upon  being  left  alone, 
saying  she  preferred  it.  She  spoke  of 
going  to  Mr.  Byington's  the  next  week,  (a 
friend  she  seemed  to  love  much,)  with 
great  pleasure,  but  said,  '  If  it  is  God's  will 
I  should  not  go,  I  am  willing  to  stay.' 
That  night  she  grew  so  much  worse,  Mr. 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  417 

Wilson  thought  best  some  one  should 
sit  up  with  her.  I  did  so,  and  cannot  tell 
you  how  glad  I  am  that  it  was  my  privilege 
to  add  in  any  way  to  her  comfort.  She 
spent  a  quiet,  comfortable  night,  did  not 
seem  to  sufler  any  pain.  She  often  asked 
what  time  it  was  ?  Should  she  take  her 
medicine  ?  Even  in  death,  how  strong  the 
ruling  passion,  politeness,  forgetfulness  of 
self,  and  deference  to  the  opinion  of 
others  !  As  often  as  I  handed  her  medi- 
cine, she  would  thank  me.  Many  times 
during  the  night,  she  would  say,  '  Do  lie 
down.  Miss  Lee,  you  have  to  teach  all  day, 
you  will  get  sick,  I  can  attend  to  myself,' 
She  seemed  so  worried  about  it,  that  I 
said,  '  I  cannot.  Miss  Greenleaf,  for  Mr. 
Wilson  told  me  to  stay  with  you.  He 
thinks  you  need  me.'  She  smiled,  and  said 
not  another  word  of  it,  when  she  heard  it 
was  his  wish. 


418  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

"  Through  her  whole  course  here,  her 
respect  for  him  as  the  superintendent,  her 
deference  to  his  opinions,  and  wishes, 
were  firm  and  constant,  there  again  show- 
ing that  the  Bible  was  her  guide,  which 
enjoins  to  be  '  in  subjection  to  the  higher 
powers.'  In  the  morning  when  she  heard 
the  rising  bell:  '■Noio,  Miss  Lee,  jow  ivill 
go  and  get  a  little  sleep.  If  I  want  any 
thing  I  can  call  one  of  the  girls.'  She 
repeatedly  thanked  me,  saying  she  did  not 
know  how  she  could  repay  me.  I  left 
about  six,  and  returned  in  two  hours,  but 
she  seemed  unconscious.  She  was  then,  I 
think,  dying." 

"  Miss  Barber  says,  '  I  think  no  one  en- 
tered her  sick-room,  without  hearing  some 
devout  expression  of  thankfulness  for  her 
comfortable  state,  and  her  calm  acquies- 
cence in  the  will  of  the  Lord.  Some  of 
the  girls  going  in  one  day  to  see  her,  she 


MARY     C.     GREEN  LEAF.  419 

said  to  them,  '  Do  not  wait  till  you  are 
sick  before  preparing  for  death,'  and  in  the 
course  of  her  remarks,  told  them  she  was 
prepared  when  young  ;  slie  had  given  her 
heart  to  God  early,  and  exhorted  them  to 
do  the  same.  The  girls  were  much 
attached  to  her,  and  especially  the  older 
ones,  who  had  assisted  her  most  in  caring 
for  the  others.  These,  on  her  deatli  and 
funeral,  gave  tokens  of  true  sorrow. 
Cornelia  Cavender  said  to  me  not  long 
ago,  '  Oh,  how  I  did  love  Miss  Green- 
leaf!'" 

Miss  Lee  continues,  "  So  she  lay  till 
twelve,  when  calmly  she  fell  asleep  in 
Jesus  !  How  bright  her  awakening  !  in 
the  arms  of  that  Redeemer  she  had  so 
loved  ill  life,  so  honored  in  death. 

"  You  inquire  of  her  grave.  She  lies 
in  a  quiet,  retired  spot.  Even  there  not 
alone,  for  an  Indian  girl  by  her  side,  and 


420  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

an  infant  of  but  few  days,  keep  her  com- 
pany. All  the  respect  that  kindness  and 
delicacy  of  feeling  could  show,  was  shown 
to  her  by  Mr.  Wilson.  He  sent  twelve 
miles  for  two  men  to  make  her  coffin.  It 
was  covered  with  black,  neatly  and  well. 
He,  with  one  of  the  missionaries,  and  the 
Indians,  bore  her  to  her  last  home,  and 
with  his  own  hands  helped  to  cover  her 
and  make  her  grave  nicely.  I  heard  him 
say,  he  intended  to  improve  the  spot. 

"  To  some,  this  account  of  her  character 
may  seem  highly  wrought,  but  those  who 
knew  her  will  say,  the  half  has  not  been 
told." 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  421 


From  Rev.  Dr.  Wilson,  Secretary  of  the 
Presbyterian  Board  of  Missions. 

"  Mission  House,  23  Centre  street,  ) 
Neiv  York,  December  2M,  1857.  \ 

"  Yours  of  the  21st  inst.,  has  been 
received.  I  regret  very  much  that  I  was 
not  here  in  time  to  furnish  the  corres- 
pondence between  Miss  Greenleaf  and  tliis 
office,  and  to  bear  my  humble  testimony  to 
her  great  worth,  both  as  a  Christian  and  a 
missionary  teacher.  Very  few  have  gone 
forth  to  engage  in  this  holy  work,  of  whom 
higher  hoj^es  were  entertained,  or  in  rela- 
tion to  whom  those  hopes  have  been  more 
fully  realized  than  in  her.  In  all  of  her 
intercourse  with  us  here,  she  left  the  very 
pleasant  impression,  that  she  was  impelled 
by  no   other  motive,  than   the  simple  and 

28 


422  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

earnest  desire  to  honor  her  Saviour,  and  do 
good  to  the  souls  of  her  benighted  fellow- 
men  ;  and  this  impression  was  fully  sus- 
tained, as  I  have  learned  from  her  associ- 
ates in  the  missionary  work,  through  the 
whole  term  of  her  missionary  labor. 

*'  The  term  of  her  labor  was  short,  it  is 
true.  But  who  can  tell  the  fall  extent  of 
her  influence,  already  felt,  and  still  to  be 
continued,  long  after  her  mortal  remains 
have  crumbled  to  dust  ? 

•'  Miss  Greenleaf  combined  in  her  views 
and  character  two  of  the  most  important 
elements  of  the  missionary  spirit.  She 
was  ready  to  accommodate  herself  to  the 
new  circumstances  of  her  calling,  and  to 
engage  in  any  department  of  labor  that  the 
general  interest  of  the  missionary  cause 
might  demand  ;  and  she  engaged  in  it  with 
the  view  of  making  it  the  work  of  her  life. 
That   she    acted   up   to    these    principles, 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAP.         423 

might  easily  be  shown,  if  we  had  time  to 
refer,  either  to  her  own  correspondence,  or 
to  the  honorable  testimony  that  has  been 
spontaneously  borne  by  almost  every  one 
of  her  missionary  associates.  The  full 
impression  made  upon  the  minds  of  the 
girls  by  her  instructions  and  example, 
and  by  those  assiduous  attentions  bestowed 
upon  them  in  sickness,  and  by  which,  her 
own  fatal  illness  was  no  doubt  brought 
on,  can  be  fully  known,  only  when  we 
come  to  read  the  pages  of  this  world's 
history  in  the  clear  light  of  eternity.  We 
shall  always  think  of  your  dear  departed 
relative,  as  a  model  of  missionary  excel- 
lence, and  we  trust,  that  many  more  such, 
in  answer  to  hers,  and  the  prayers  of  other 
Christians,  will  be  raised  up  to  take  her 
place,  and  extend  the  knowledge  of  the 
Gospel  among  all  the  nations  of  the  earth. 
"  I  am  sorry  that  my  engagements  do 


424  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

not  allow  me  to  express  all  that  I  would 
like  to  say  on  this  subject. 

"  Yours  in  Christian  bonds, 

"  J.  Leighton  Wilson." 


Thus,  after  patience  had  had  its  per- 
fect work,  did  her  heavenly  Father  permit 
her  to  fulfill  her  vow,  and  then  call  her  to 
come  up  higher,  before  her  eye  had  become 
dim,  or  her  natural  force  abated.  Thus 
did  he  cover  her  eyes,  that  she  saw  not  the 
face  of  the  angel  from  whose  preseiice 
nature  shrinks. 

We  had  almost  forgotten  that  Miss 
Greenleaf  was  mortal.  While  she,  upon 
her  bed  of  death,  was  saying  to  a  sister 
missionary,  "  You  cannot  do  better  than  to 
commend  me  to  the  Great  Physician,"  we 
had  begun  to  watch  for  her  returning  foot- 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAP.  425 

steps.  Some  among  us  thoiiglit  that  they 
would  not  be  here  to  greet  her,  but  never 
doubted  her  return.  One  of  these,  a 
cotemporary  and  kindred  spirit  with  her 
motlier,  says,  "  I  often  wonder  why  she 
was  taken  and  I  spared,  when  ten  such 
as  I  am,  would  not  be  missed  so  much.  I 
think,  with  reference  to  her,  of  that 
promise :  '  Them  that  honor  me,  I  will 
honor. '  She  honored  God,  and  now,  of 
the  many  who  speak  to  me  of  her,  hardly 
one  can  do  so  without  tears !  "  She  left 
no  sister  in  Newburyport,  yet  there  is  one 
who  wept  for  her,  who  still  weeps  as  for  a 
sister.  One,  too,  who  at  the  news  of  her 
death,  felt  crushed  as  by  a  literal  blow. 
He  whom  she  besought  to  learn  by  sweet 
experience  tlie  happiness  of  religion, 
writes  in  August,  "  I  have  thought  of  her 
death  ever  since,  and  still  continue  to  do 
so.     Many,  many  tears  I  know  have  been 


426  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

shed  by  those  who  loved  her  so  well,  and 
who  took  sweet  counsel  with  her  in  the 
years  which  are  past." 

We  turn  to  those  dear  Indian  youth, 
for  whose  sake  'she  made  her  home  and 
grave  far  from  her  beautiful  native  place, 
and  say  to  them,  as  said  a  young  Chero- 
kee girl  to  her  companions,  over  the 
grave  of  that  sweet  native  missionary, 
Catherine  Brown, — 

"  Ye  daughters  who  dwell  in  the  pleasant  green  shade, 
Whom  "  Mary  so  "  tenderly  loved, — 
She  bade  you  repent,  for  your  pardon  she  prayed, 
And  wept  when  she  saw  you  unmoved, — " 

"  Come  chant  your  sad  dirges  in  sorrowful  strains, 
As  you  stand  around  "  Mary's  low  "  grave." 

You  weep.  Your  tears  and  accents  of 
love  and  sorrow,  have  been  borne  to  us 
across  the   wilderness,  mingled   with  those 


MABY     C.     GEEENLEAF.         427 

of  your  teachers,  and  of  other  loved  mis- 
sionaries long  in  the  field. 

Do  you  not  wish  to  rejoin  her  ?  By- 
and-bye,  each  of  you  will  be  laid  in 
the  grave  as  was  she,  by  loving  hands. 
Would  you  not  then  love  to  wander  with 
her  beneath  the  trees,  and  along  the  banks 
of  the  river  of  the  water  of  life  ?  With 
her  to  raise  your  voices  in  a  sweeter  song 
than  was  ever  sung  by  English  or  Indian 
tongue  ?  Then  heed  her  latest  words,  her 
dying  counsels.  The  Saviour  who  loved 
her,  who  by  his  Spirit  made  her  so  good, 
so  happy  in  life,  and  who  took  her  to  him- 
self in  death,  is  ready  to  make  you  as 
good,  as  happy,  and  much  more  so,  if 
you  will  but  seek  liini  earnestly.  Weep  ; 
but  no  longer  for  her.  She  is  re-united  to 
loved  ancestors  and  kindred. 


"  She  hath  gone  to  list 
Isaiah's  harp,  and  David's,  and  to  walk 


428  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

Witli  Enoch  and  Elijah,  and  the  host 

Of  the  just  men  made  perfect.     She  shall  bow 

At  Gabriel's  Hallelujah, 

And  talk  of  Christ  with  Mary,  and  go  back 
To  the  last  supper,  and  the  garden  hour 
With  the  beloved  disciple." 

And  more  than   all,  she  shall   be  with 

Him  whom  her  soul  loveth,  in  whose  foot- 
steps she  has  humbly  trod.     She  is  with 

Him,  and  she  is  like  Him. 

The     attempt    to    preserve    by  written 

words,  the  resemblance  of  those  whom  we 

have  loved  and  lost,  is  often  but  partially 

successful.      As    in    the   act   of  pressing 

flowers,    part    of    their    fragrance,    their 

grace,  their  bright  coloring  escape  us,  as 

we  can  at  best  retain  but  a  faint  shadow 

of  what  seemed  too  precious  to  be  suffered 

to  die   out,  so  in  the  memorial,  we  often 

vainly  seek  to  restore,  what  it  grieved  us 

so   much   to   lose.      Yet    many   a    faded, 


MAEY     C.     GREENLEAF.  429 

dead  cluster,  is  treasured  carefully  for  its 
associations.  In  tlie  present  instance, 
there  has  been  an  utter  hopelessness  of 
reproducing  the  image  of  our  sleeping 
sister.  But  no  matter — she  is  daguerreo- 
typed  upon  loving  hearts.  If  the  higher 
object  may  be  gained,  if  the  cause  of 
Christ,  so  dear  to  her  in  life,  may  be 
advanced ;  if  this  little  sketch,  like  its  sub- 
ject, may  go  forth  animating,  impelling 
and  quickening,  then  indeed,  will  we 
rejoice. 

The  name  of  Mary  Greenleaf,  with  those 
who  knew  her  from  the  firsj;,  was  a 
synonym  for  truth,  simplicity  and  piety. 
Some  characters  are  an  interesting  study, 
hers  was  pleasant  reading.  We  think  we 
understand  the  smile  of  the  secretary  at 
New  York.  He  saw  at  once,  her  fright  at 
the  lion  he  had  roused  in  her  path  to 
Wapanucka ;  but  he  knew  that  she  would 


430  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

no  more  turn  back  for  it,  than  did 
Christian  for  those  that  were  chained  near 
the  entrance  to  the  house  Beautiful. 

The  personal  attractions  of  Miss  Green- 
leaf,  were  obscured  by  an  utter  neglect  of 
the  appliances  of  dress  and  arrangement. 
Her  fine  brown  hair,  instead  of  gracefully 
shading  the  forehead  and  cheek,  was 
combed  smoothly  behind  the  ear,  and  con- 
fined back.  She  probably  never  did,  nor 
said,  nor  wore  a  thing  of  her  own  accord, 
for  the  sake  of  effect.  Neatness  and  pro- 
priety in  person  and  manners,  were  her 
only  aim. .  Yet  that  enduring  charm,  the 
beauty  of  expression,  could  not  be  con- 
cealed. The  soul  looked  out  through  the 
clear  blue  eye,  and  the  lineaments  of  the 
face.  A  lady  of  highly  cultivated  taste, 
speaking  of  the  elevated,  spiritual  expres- 
sion of  her  countenance,  applied  to  it  the 
line  of  Byron  : 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAP.         431 
"  Music  breathing  through  the  face." 

A  little  boy  while  looking  at  her 
amhrotype  said,  "  That  lady  looks  as  if  she 
would  go  to  heaven,  does  not  she,  aunt 
Alice  ? " 

In  company,  she  sustained  her  part 
with  great  modesty  and  simplicity,  enjoying 
with  high  zest,  intellectual  and  improving 
conversation,  preferring  to  listen,  catching 
instantly  the  point  of  a  story,  and  aiding 
by  the  play  of  her  features,  and  her  ready 
smile  or  laugh,  quite  as  much  as  by  her 
words.  It  was  ricli  to  hear  her  parry  or 
retort  a  good-natured  joke.  Her  wit  was 
ready,  and  her  hits  always  effective.  Her 
mirth  was  of  that  genial,  contagious  sort, 
that  might  possibly  annoy,  but  never  stung. 
It  never  exceeded  the  proper  limit.  She 
seemed  always  in  a  frame  in  which  one 
would  be  willing  to  die. 


432  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

The  extent  of  her  unconscious  influence, 
may  be  estimated  by  comparing  the  tes- 
timony of  her  Sabbath  pupil  in  her  own 
city,  with  that  of  her  fellow-teacher  at 
Wapanucka. 

Her  sweet,  obliging  disposition,  her 
buoyant  temperament,  her  freedom  from 
envy,  jealousy  and  suspicion,  her  liberality 
of  sentiment,  and  of  feeling,  which  forbade 
her  censuring  those  who  had  not  her 
own  high  standard  of  duty  and  action, 
these  were  some  of  the  qualities  which 
made  her  a  desirable  friend  and  com- 
panion. They  enabled  her  friends  to 
confide  in  her  ; — to  feel  that  when  appar- 
ently negligent  of  her,  they  were  still 
trusted  and  understood  ;  and  caused  them 
to  rely  upon  her,  when  she,  in  her  turn, 
gave  no  token.  Her  introverted  eye  scan- 
ned not  critically  their  short  comings. 

In   the   article   of  giving,   her  intellect 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.  433 

was  guided  by  her  heart.  Under  no  cir- 
cumstances of  pressure,  did  she  feel 
authorized  to  withhold  her  hand  from  the 
benevolent  enterprises  of  the  daj,  or  from 
private  charity.  When  the  incubus  of 
debt  was  removed,  she  gave  freely,  nobly. 
Her  will,  and  her  latest  pecuniary  arrange- 
ments prove,  that  while  mindful  of  the 
claims  of  kindred,  she  "  preferred  Jerusa- 
lem above  her  chief  joy." 

Her  Christian  virtues  doubtless  increased 
year  by  year ;  but  her  outward  walk  was 
uniform  and  consistent.  Surely  the  pul- 
sations of  her  hidden  life  would  not  have 
been  so  strong  and  steady,  had  she  not 
drank  freely  at  the  Fountain,  and  gathered 
abundantly  of  the  manna.  Says  her  pastor, 
— "This  woman,  whose  labors  were  so 
abundant,  whose  whole  time  so  occupied, 
communed  more  than  the  most  of  Christ- 
ians  with   God   in   private,   settled   every 


434  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 

question  of  duty  on  her  knees  ;  refreshed 
her  energies  and  drew  her  supplies  of  all 
kinds,  immediately  from  the  Fountain.  In 
trouble  or  perplexity,  when  her  religious 
affections  were  languid,  no  less  than  when 
they  were  ardent,  her  unfailing  resort 
was  God.  And  thus  not  only  did  she 
become  a  steadfast,  and  a  very  intelligent 
Christian  herself,  well  read  and  experienced 
ill  the  things  of  the  kingdom,  but  she  was 
able  to  guide  and  instruct  others  who 
leaned  affectionately  upon  her  counsel, 
and  walked  by  her  light." 

Let  us,  for  the  quickening  of  our  own, 
glance  at  some  of  her  more  prominent 
Christian  graces.  And  first  at  her  cheer- 
fulness. Was  it  not  a  Christian  grace  ? 
Is  it  not,  like  the  whole  sisterhood,  attain- 
able by  all  ?  Not  by  direct  efforts,  but  by 
frequent  looking  at  the  character  of  God, 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAF.         435 

and  our  relations  to  him  in  and  through 
Christ. 

Her  hope  was  lighted  at  the  sure  prom- 
ises of  God  in  Christ.  At  first,  faint, 
flickering,  uncertain,  it  became  clear, 
strong,  and  assured.  She  walked  firmly 
in  its  light,  and  it  shone  upon  the  patli 
of  her  companions. 

Her  trust  in  God  was  unwavering.  She 
received  all  temporal  allotments  as  from 
his  hand ;  and  when,  after  perplexity  or 
distress,  unexpected  relief  came,  she  stood 
astonished  at  his  (to  her  view),  visible 
interposition.  An  entry  in  her  private 
journal  is  an  instance  of  this.     She  writes  : 

"  "Well  do  I  remember  the  day,  perhaps 
twenty  years  before,  when  I  was  so  bur- 
dened with  our  embarrassed  affairs,  as  to 
make  it  a  special  request  before  God,  that 
he   would   permit  me   to   enjoy    so   much 


436  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

temporal  prosperity  at  some  time  as  to  be 
free  of  debt, — and  when  the  answer  came, 
at  the  end  of  that  period,  how  good  was 
it  to  remember  the  loving  kindness  of  the 
Lord." 

She  relied  upon  Providence  for  her 
daily  support,  using  vigorously  the  means 
appropriate  to  that  object,  and  taking  no 
anxious  thought  for  the  morrow.  She 
could  not  sympathize  with  a  friend  who 
feared  coming  to  want ;  because  she  never 
had  such  a  thought.  The  Lord  iDould 
j)rovide.  She  watched  and  followed  the 
leadings  of  Providence,  even  when  her 
wishes  were  strongest. 

Her  love  was  ardent.  Slie  knew  as  only 
a  child  can,  who  and  what  God  is ;  tliat 
he  is  Love.  Her  heart  went  out  to  him  ; 
— and  that  unspeakable  love  of  his  in 
redemption,  claimed  the  warmest,  tenderest 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAP.  437 

love  of  her  soul ;  and  received  it.  Her 
love  to  the  Father  flowed  out  to  the 
children,  her  brethren  and  sisters ;  her 
love  to  the  Saviour  flowed  out  in  her 
humble  measure,  as  his  did  to  sinners. 
It  was  this  love  which  made  her  life  so 
joyful, — made  all  sacrifices  easy,  all  duties, 
privileges ;  made  the  Sabbath  and  the 
Sanctuary  her  delight ;  enabled  her  at  all 
times  to  say  with  the  Shunammite  of  old, 
"It  is  well." 

Shall  we  not  echo  the  words  ?  "  It  is 
well."  No  more,  oh  !  nevermore  on 
earth,  dear  friend,  shall  we  see  thee,  yet 
with  him  who  was  so  lately  thy  loved 
pastor,  we  will  say,  "  Thou  art  resting 
from  thy  labors ;  thou  art  with  Christ 
forever.  And  for  thy  body,  we  are  content 
with  its  grave, — there  beside  the  limestone 
dwelling,  the  scene  of  its  latest  toils, — 
there  by  the  prairie's  verge,  with  Indian 

29 


438  LIFE     AND     LETTEES 

girls  to  strew  prairie  flowers  upon  it,  and 
to  water  it  with  their  tears, — there  where 
the  martins  have  their  home  and  the  oriole 
sings, — there  where  the  golden  coreopses 
bloom,  and  passion  flowers,  fit  emblems  of 
devotion  like  thine.  There  shall  it  lie 
undisturbed, — where  thy  companions  and 
pupils  laid  it — to  '  sleep  the  years  away,' 
till  the  Saviour  shall  come  and  gather  it, 
and  fashion  it  '  like  unto  his  glorious 
body.'  We  leave  thine  honored  dust  in 
hope  ;  while  for  ourselves,  we  will  ponder 
and  remember  thy  Christian  life,  and  tran- 
quil death ;  we  will  speak  often  in  memorial 
of  thee, — and  pray  that  to  all,  thy  prayers, 
thy  life  and  death,  may  be  sanctified  ;  that 
we  may  learn  to  follow  thy  faith  up  to  the 
land  of  vision  and  of  bliss." 

The  life  of  each  single-minded  believer 
is  a  new  treasure  added  to  the  church  5 
the   memory  of  each   is  fragrant.     God's 


MARY     C.     GREENLEAP.         439 

providential  guidance  of  each,  prayerfully 
studied,  strengthens  our  faith  in  Him  who 
"  hides  himself  so  wondrously ; "  helps  us 
to  "  know  that  all  things  work  together 
for  good  to  them  that  love  God."  What 
though  in  the  track  of  light  they  leave 
behind,  we  see  glittering  tear  drops,  and 
stains  of  blood.  Their  tears  are  now  for- 
ever wiped  away.  They  are  no  longer  like 
us,  footsore  and  weary.  They  have  got 
safe  home  to  the  Father's  house ;  and  the 
thought  of  this,  seems  to  shorten  for  us 
the  intervening  distance. 

In  the  gloriou'S  future  which  we  ap- 
proach, looking  back,  we  shall  survey  this 
whole  valley,  not  as  now  overhung  with 
"  clouds  and  darkness,"  but  glowing  be- 
neath the  warm  radiance  of  eternal  wisdom 
and  goodness.  Then,  with  our  "  strong, 
immortal  eyes,"  we  shall  see  that  not  one 
rough  stone  or  rugged  brier,  not  one  rest- 


440  LIFE     AND     LETTERS 


ing-place,  or  sweet  or  bitter  cup  could 
have  been  withheld  from  us,  without  our 
loss. 

If  from  that  land  whither  we  assuredly 
believe  our  friend  has  gone,  the  saints  are 
permitted  to  look  down  upon  us,  who  still 
move  slowly  onward  in  gloom  and  shadow, 
who  rejoice  over  our  snares,  who  mourn 
over  the  germs  of  our  richest  blessings, 
who  ofttimes  account  our  highest  privileges 
self-denials  ;  does  she  not  watch  us  with 
earnest  eyes  ?  does  she  not  beckon  to  us  ? 
does  she  not,  to  use  her  own  words,  "  want 
us  to  quicken  our  steps  heavenward,  real- 
izing how  soon,  through  infinite  grace, 
we  shall  be  re-united  ?  " 

There,  if  we  are  so  happy  as  to  obtain 
entrance,  we  shall  look  down  upon  our 
present  embryo  state,  as  we  now  look  down 
upon  the  busy  emmets  that  build  their 
houses  at  our  feet.      There   we  shall   no 


^       MAEY     C.     GREENLEAF.  441 

longer  doubt,  dispute,  arrive,  after  long 
and  painful  study,  at  opposite  conclusions. 
There  we  shall  see  and  know ; — and  in  all 
our  knowledge  there  will  be  delight,  at 
perceiving  the  perfect  adaptation  of  all 
arrangements,  the  beautiful  symmetry,  and 
the  transcendent  glory  of  all  truths. 

And  oh,  the  atmosphere  of  love  !  Love 
beaming  down  from  the  Divine  source  and 
centre ;  love  reflected  from  the  face  of 
every  saint  and  angel ;  love  welling  up 
eternally  from  our  own  enfranchised  souls. 
Oh,  the  music  of  that  new  song  !  Perfect 
love  and  gratitude  inspiring  every  note 
which  swells  from  the  harps  and  voices 
of  the  innumerable  host  of  the  redeemed. 

Then  let  us  hasten  forward ;  earth  each 
day  receding;  heaven  nearing;  our  eyes 
intently  fixed  upon  Him  who  is  the  world's 
hope,  the  world's  only  refuge,  the  world's 
salvation. 


442  LIFE    AND    LETTERS 


THE    SEPARATED. 

They  live, — they  live  a  heavenly  life, 
And  I  shall  see  them  yet  again, 

Above  this  world  of  care  and  strife, 
Beyond  the  reach  of  mortal  pain. 

They  stand  before  the  throne  of  God, 
They  breathe  his  pure,  immortal  air ; 

They  dwell  in  his  own  blest  abode. 

And  Faith  can  look  and  see  them  there. 

How  bright,  how  glorious,  now  they  shine  ! 

How  high  their  tuneful  voices  rise ; 
In  praises  to  their  Lord  divine, 

Re-echoing  through  the  lofty  skies. 

And  shaU  /join  their  rapturous  song. 
And  meet  them  at  the  Saviour's  feet? 

Hope  whispers  in  my  heart,  ere  long 
My  friends^  my  kindred  I  shall  greet." 


e" 


APPENDIX 


Mrs.  Greenleaf  was  no  respecter  of  persons.  In 
other  words  she  was  as  ready  to  benefit  by  her 
counsels  the  rich  as  the  poor.  We  recollect  her 
endeavoring  to  persuade  the  wife  of  one  of  the 
Boston  millionaires  who  called  to  see  her,  to  come 
out  more  decidedly  upon  the  side  of  evangelical 
religion,  upon  the  ground  that  her  position  gave  her 
a  wider  influence,  and  enabled  her  to  do  more  good 
than  was  in  the  power  of  many.  The  lady,  however, 
had  no  idea  of  assuming  any  responsibility  beyond 
that  which  rests  upon  each  individually,  and  she 
replied,  "  Surely,  Mrs.  Greenleaf,  you  would  not 
advocate  the  idea  that  the  mere  circumstance  of 
wealth  or  social  position  should  have  any  thing  to  do 
with  religion,  which  is  far  above  such  secular  con- 
siderations." Mrs.  G ,  with  her  usual  urbanity,  was 
firm  to  her  point,  and  the  lady  not  less  so  to  hers. 
They  are  both  now,  we  beHeve,  in  a  world  where 
the  only  contention  is,  which  "  owes  highest  praise 
to  sovereign  grace."  It  is  quite  likely  that  the 
admonition,  resisted  at  the  time,  made,  nevertheless, 
an  enduring  impression. 


444  APPENDIX 


Yet  early  associations  impressed  Mrs.  Greenleaf 
powerfully  at  timm.  When  Mr.  Cole  requested  her 
to  sit  for  her  likeness,  adding  that  hers  was  just  the 
face  he  would  like  to  portray,  she  finally  consented. 
But  remaining  for  hours  in  the  large  room,  which 
had  in  her  youthful  days  served  as  her  father's 
oratory,  her  countenance  became  so  solemn,  that  the 
artist  was  disheartened,  and  returned  the  picture 
unfinished.  Mr.  Lawson  afterwards  completed  it. 
A  lady  still  living  in  a  neighboring  town,  a  frequent 
guest  at  Captain  Coombs',  recollects  rising  early  in 
the  cold  winter  mornings,  to  listen  outside  the  door, 
of  that  same  room,  to  the  audible  outpourings  of  his 
soul.  The  corner  of  the  sofa  where  he  knelt  in 
prayer  was  literally  saturated  with  his  tears.  He 
had  always  a  book  of  holy  meditation  or  devotion  at 
hand ;  and  Charles  Wesley's  Hymn  for  an  aged 
Christian,  commencing, — 

"  And  let  this  feeble  body  fail," 

he  kept  in  his  vest  pocket,  till  by  frequent  perusal  it 
was  worn  out.  That  hymn,  sung  to  a  very  sweet 
obsolete  tune  called  "  Watchman,"  by  a  lovely  saint, 
a  grand-daughter  of  his,  who  in  her  upward  flight, 
preceded  her  cousin  Miss  Greenleaf  but  three  short 
months,  has  cheered  the  dying-bed  of  many  a  Christ- 
ian in  Dorchester. 


APPENDIX.  445 


C. 

Miss  Greenleaf  treated  her  books  as  severely  as 
she  did  herself,  wearing  them  out  in  the  service,  and 
for  the  good  of  others.  This  work,  both  volumes  of 
which  were  given  her  by  a  friend,  was  so  defaced  by 
constant  circulation,  that  she  was  obliged  to  get  it 
rebound. 


D. 

This  manner  was  peculiarly  graceful  in  Mrs. 
Greenleaf.  A  young  lady,  soon  after  the  death  of 
Miss  Greenleaf  in  her  far  away  home,  imagined  her 
first  meeting  with  her  mother  in  the  upper  kingdom. 
She  seemed  to  see  the  ecstatic  smile  of  the  latter, 
and  to  hear  her  voice,  saying,  "  Mary,  I'm  glad  you 
went." 


£ 

In  a  letter  which  she  wrote  two  years  later  from 
Napoleon,  en  route  for  Wapanucka,  she  remarks 
upon  her  fellow  passengers  in  the  steamer  to  that 
point.  She  found  them  quite  as  curious  as  the 
Yankees  are  said  to  be.  She  was  repeatedly  asked, 
"  Whence  she  came  ?  Whither  she  was  going  ?  If 
she  were  married?  If  she  were  a  slave  owner?" 
She  adds  naively,  "  I  never  thought  I  should  be 
taken  for  a    slaveholder."      She  found   them  quite 


446  APPENDIX. 

incredulous  upon  tlie  subject  of  her  going  so  far 
merely  upon  an  errand  of  benevolence.  She  was 
quite  amused  and  interested  by  the  young  slaves  she 
saw  on  board.  We  regret  that  the  letter  has  been 
mislaid. 


"  If  on  our  daily  course  our  mind 
Be  set  to  hallow  all  we  find ; 
New  treasures  still  of  countless  price, 
God  will  jjrovide  for  sacrifice." 

"  Some  softening  gleam  of  love  and  prayer, 
Shall  dawn  on  every  cross  and  care." 

"  The  trivial  round,  the  common  task," 
Will  "  furnish  all  we  ought  to  ask ; 
Room  to  deny  ourselves;  a  road 
To  bring  us  daily  nearer  God." — KLeble. 

We  are  sorely  tempted  to  transcribe  the  whole 
beautiful  Morning  Hymn,  but  it  is  too  well  known. 


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